THE BLADDER. 



1907 



from the latter by the retropubic pad of fat from . 5-1 cm. thick. The fundus the 

 posterior part of the inferior surface included between the urethral opening and the 

 posterior border is in contact with the median ends of the seminal vesicles and of 

 the ampullae of the seminal ducts, by which structures and their musculo-adipose 

 bed the bladder is separated from the anterior wall of the recto-vesical fossa. 



The internal orifice of the urethra lies immediately above the prostate, usually 

 from 1.2-2.5 cm. (^-i in. ) above the plane passing through the lower border of the 

 symphysis and the lower end of the sacrum ; the distance from the upper border of 

 the symphysis to the orifice measures from 56 cm. ( 22 y 2 in. ) ; in the horizontal 

 plane it lies from 2.5-3 cm - behind the symphysis, its nearest point on the latter 

 being about 2 cm. (Disse). These measurements are influenced by changes in the 

 position of the inferior surface, being shortest when the empty bladder is pushed 

 upward. 



FIG. 1622. 



Ureter 



Suspensory 

 ligament of ovary 



Fallopian tube ' 



Round ligament 

 Ovary. 



Obliterated 

 hypogastric artery 



Uterus. 



Symphysis pubis 



Urethra 



External urethral 

 orifice in vestibule 



: _Utero-sacral fold 



Rectum 

 External os uteri 



Bottom of recto- 

 uterine pouch 



.Vagina 



Perineal body 

 Sagittal section of female pelvis of formalin subject. 



Laterally the paravesical fossa intervene between the empty bladder and the 

 sides of the pelvis. In the contracted condition the superior surface usually lies 

 below the plane of the pelvic inlet, the entire bladder being within the anterior third 

 of the pelvis and close to the pelvic floor. This upper surface, covered with peri- 

 toneum, is in contact with coils of small intestine which, when the rectum is empty, 

 may occupy a part of the recto-vesical fossa. 



In the distended bladder the relations of the inferior surface suffer little change on account 

 of the intimate attachments of the vesical wall to the prostate and to the fixation to the pubis 

 afforded by the pubo-prostatic (pubo-vesical) ligaments and enclosed muscle. The postero- 

 inferior surface expanding backward and outward, comes into more extensive and closer rela- 



