VESSELS AND NERVES OF THE PELVIS. 395 



The base is of less extent, and is in contact with the vagina and the 

 neck of the uterus. The vasa deferentia, vesiculae seminales and 

 prostate are absent. 



The URETER has a longer course in the female than in the male Course of 

 pelvis before it reaches the bladder. After crossing the internal 

 iliac vessels, it passes by the neck of the uterus to its destination. 



The URETHRA (fig. 146 and fig. 147, G) is about one inch and a Urethra: 

 half long, and by its position corresponds to the prostatic and length ; 

 membranous portions of the male passage, although it represents 

 only the upper half of the prostatic urethra. It is situate in front position and 

 of the vagina, and describes a slight curve, with the concavity 

 forwards, below the sympliysis pubis. Its external opening 

 (meatus urinarius) is placed within the vulva (p. 255). 



In its course to the surface it is embedded in the tissue of the relations. 

 vagina wall, and perforates the triangular ligament of the perineum, 

 where it is surrounded by fibres of the deep transverse muscle, and 

 a layer of circular involuntary fibres (p. 258). A plexus of veins 

 surrounds the urethra as well as the vagina. 



-KLS AND NERVES OF THE PELVIS. 



Iii the pelvis are contained the internal iliac vessels and their Vessels and 

 branches to the viscera, the sacral plexus of nerves, and the sym- 

 pathetic nerve. This section is to be used by the dissectors of both 

 the male and female pelvis. 



Directions. The internal iliac vessels are to be dissected on the 

 right side. The air should be previously let out of the bladder ; 

 and this viscus and the rectum, with the uterus and the vagina in 

 the female, should be drawn aside from their situation in the centre 

 of the pelvis (fig. 148). 



Dissection. The loose tissue and fat are to be removed from TO dissect 

 the trunk of the vessels, as well as from the branches of the arteries 

 that leave the pelvis, or supply the viscera ; and the cord of the 

 obliterated hypogastric artery is to be traced on the bladder to the 

 umbilicus. 



With the vessels are offsets of the hypogastric plexus of nerves, nerves, 

 though these will probably not be seen ; but in dissecting the 

 \v>sels to the bladder and rectum, visceral branches of the sacral 

 spinal nerves will now come into view. The veins may be removed veins, 

 in a general dissection. 



When the vessels have been prepared the bladder may again 

 1-e distended, and the viscera replaced. 



The INTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY (fig. 148, </, p. 397) IS one of Internal 



the trunks resulting from the division of the common iliac artery, lh 

 and furnishes branches to the viscera and wall of the pelvis, to the 

 organs of generation, and to the limb. 



In the adult the vessel is a short trunk of large capacity, which size and 

 measures from an inch to an inch and a half in length. Directed en ' 

 downwards towards the great sacro-sciatic foramen, the artery termi- termination; 

 nates generally in two divisions (anterior and posterior), from which 



