834 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



pelvic wall, thus constructed, is clothed by the pelvic fascia. 

 Superiorly the pelvic cavity is quite open and in free communication 

 with the abdomen proper, Inferiorly it is for the most part closed, 

 a complex septum separating it from the perineum underneath. 

 This septum is partly muscular and partly fascial. The muscles 

 entering into it are the levatores ani and the coccygei, which con- 

 struct the pelvic diaphragm. The fascial element is formed on either 

 side by the visceral pelvic fascia, which clothes the superior or pelvic 

 surface of the muscular diaphragm, and the anal fascia, which covers 

 its inferior or perineal surface. The floor of the pelvis is consequently 

 movable, being capable of ascending and descending. It affords 

 passage to the rectum, and, in addition, to the vagina in the female. 



Contents of the Pelvis. — ^The contents of the male pelvis are as 

 follows : the pelvic colon and rectum ; the bladder, with the lower 

 portions of the ureters and the prostate gland, the latter containing 

 the prostatic part of the urethra ; the vesiculse seminales and the 

 lower portions of the vasa deferentia ; the internal iliac vessels and 

 their branches ; portions of the superior hemorrhoidal and middle 

 sacral vessels ; the hemorrhoidal, vesical, and prostatic venous 

 plexuses, the latter receiving the dorsal vein of the penis in two 

 divisions ; the sacral and sacro-coccygeal plexuses and their 

 branches ; the pelvic portions of the gangliated sympathetic 

 chains ; and the obturator nerves in part of their course. 



The differences in the contents of the female pelvis, as compared 

 with those of the male, are as follows : 



For the prostate gland and prostatic portion of the urethra 

 substitute the female urethra, uterus, and vagina. For the vesiculae 

 seminales and portions of the vasa deferentia substitute the broad 

 ligaments of the uterus and their contents, namely, the Fallopian 

 tubes, the ovaries with their ligaments, and the round ligaments of 

 the uterus. Add to portions of the superior hemorrhoidal and 

 middle sacral vessels portions of the ovarian vessels. For the 

 prostatic venous plexus substitute the pudendal plexus, and add 

 the uterine and ovarian venous plexuses. 



The Male Pelvis. 



General Position of the Viscera. — ^The pelvic colon and rectum 

 are situated upon the posterior wall, the pelvic colon reaching as 

 low as the third sacral vertebra, and the rectum extending thence 

 downwards and forwards to the interval between the levatores ani 

 muscles, where it is succeeded by the anal canal. The l>ladder is 

 anterior in position, being situated behind the bodies of the pubic 

 bones, and resting by its base upon the rectum. The vesiculae 

 seminales and the lower portions of the vasa deferentia lie in contact 

 with the base of the bladder, between it and the rectum. The 

 prostate gland surrounds the neck of the bladder and the prostatic 

 part of the urethra. 



Peritoneum. — ^The disposition of the peritoneum will be simplified 



