388 



DISSECTION OF THE PELVIS. 



Basal 

 surface. 



Anterior, 



superior 



and lateral. 



Neck, 



Condition 

 of empty 

 bladder. 



Ureter in 

 pelvis, 



enters 

 bladder. 



Prostate : 

 position ; 

 form ; 

 axis 



relations of 



anterior 



surface, 



posterior 

 surface, 



and side ; 



apex and 

 base; 



cords are prolonged to the umbilicus ; the central one of these is 

 the uraclms ; and the two lateral are the obliterated hypogastric 

 arteries (fig. 109, p. 299). All the surface behind the obliterated 

 vessels is covered by peritoneum. 



SURFACES. The base or basal surface rests against the middle part 

 of the rectum. Connected with it are the vesiculae seminales 

 and the vasa deferentia ; and between these is a triangular space, 

 from which the peritoneum is mostly absent. 



The anterior or pubic surface of the body is in contact with the 

 pubic bones and anterior true ligaments, as well as with the 

 abdominal wall if the bladder is very full. It is altogether free 

 from peritoneum. 



The superior or abdominal surface is entirely covered by the 

 serous membrane, and has the small intestine and the pelvic colon 

 resting on it ; the ureter enters its postero-lateral angle at either 

 side, and the vas deferens courses over the hinder part of this 

 surface beneath the peritoneum. 



Extending along the upper part of each lateral region is the 

 obliterated hypogastric artery, which marks the extent of the 

 peritoneal covering at the side. The surface below this is connected 

 with the pelvic fascia by very loose areolar tissue. 



The neck (cervix) is the part of the bladder near the urethra, and 

 is surrounded by the prostate gland. This is the lowest part of the 

 organ. 



When the bladder is empty, the upper wall falls upon the 

 lower ; the apex lies at the upper end of the pubic symphysis ; 

 and the base is of very small extent and looks downwards. In a 

 median section the cavity then appears as a slit, which is continued 

 backwards for a short distance beyond the beginning of the urethra. 



The URETER (figs. 144 and 145, li) crosses the common or the 

 external iliac artery, and inclines forwards below the level of the 

 obliterated hypogastric artery, being covered by the peritoneum 

 above the sacro-genital fold. It enters the bladder at the upper 

 and outer part of the base, at the distance of one inch and a half or 

 two inches from the prostate gland. 



The PROSTATE GLAND (figs. 144 and 145, 6) surrounds the neck 

 of the bladder. Its shape is conical with the base turned upwards, 

 and its size about equals that of a large chestnut. In the 

 recumbent position, a line from the apex through the middle of 

 the gland would be directed obliquely backwards and slightly 

 downwards towards the sacrum ; but in the erect state of the body 

 the axis is nearly vertical. 



The anterior surface is about three-quarters of an inch from the 

 symphysis pubis, to which it is attached by the anterior true 

 ligaments of the bladder. On this surface the dorsal vein of the 

 penis divides to enter the prostatic plexus. The posterior surface 

 has the greatest extent, and is close to the rectum ; this is the part 

 that is felt by the finger introduced into the bowel through the 

 anus. On each side the prostate is covered by the levator ani. 



The apex rests on the upper surface of the triangular ligament ; 



