224: CAVITY OF PELVIS. 



obturator interims muscle, and passing beneath the obtu- 

 rator vessels and nerve, completes the obturator canal ; it 

 is attached below to the pubic rami, where it forms an 

 investment for the internal pudic vessels and nerve. It 

 afterwards sends a thin fascia, the anal, over the lower 



FIG. 39. 



Transverse section of the pelvis seen from behind, showing the distribution 

 of the pelvic fascia. 1. Bladder. 2. Vesicula seminalis of one side divided. 3. 

 Rectum. 4. Iliac fascia, covering in the iliacus and psoas (5), and forming a 

 sheath for the external iliac vessels (6). 7. Anterior crural nerve excluded from 

 the sheath. 8. Pelvic fascia, splitting into the recto-vesical and obturator layers. 

 9. Recto-vesical layer, forming the lateral ligament of the bladder of one side, 

 and a sheath to the vesical plexus of veins. 10. A layer of fascia passing between 

 the bladder and rectum. 11. A layer passing around the rectum. 12. Levator 

 ani. 13. Obturator interims, covered in by the obturator fascia, which also forms 

 a sheath for the internal pudic vessels and nerve (14). 15. Anal fascia, investing 

 the under surface of the levator ani. Figures 14, 15, are placed in the ischio- 

 rectal fossa. (WILSON.) 



surface of the levator ani, which is to be seen covering 

 it in the ischio-rectal fossa. The internal lamina (the 

 recto-vesical), is continued over the upper surface of the 

 levator ani, over the bladder and sides of prostate, and 

 lower end of rectum. The pubo-prostatic ligaments are 

 formed by two short rounded bands extending from the 

 capsule of the prostate to the posterior aspect of the 



