THE BLADDER. 



1141 



vious. so that the urine escapes at the umbilicus, and calculi have been found in 

 its canal. 



The SHp'-rinr or abdominal surface is free, and extends antero-posteriorly from 

 the summit to the base : laterally, it reaches to the sides of the bladder from which 

 it is approximately marked off by the obliterated hypogastric arteries. This sur- 

 face is entirely covered by peritoneum, and is in relation with the uterus, in the 

 female, the sigmoid flexure, in the male, and in either sex with some loops of the 

 small intestine. Posteriorly on each side, beneath the peritoneum, is, in the male, 

 a part of the vas deferens. 



The antero-infcrior or pubic surface is not covered in front by peritoneum, 

 but is in relation with the triangular ligament, the posterior surface of the sym- 

 pliysis pubis. the anterior parts of Levator ani and Internal obturator muscles, 



Vermiform appendix 



External Him- 

 artery. 



Anterior crural 



External oblique 

 muscle. 



V 



Profunda vessels. 



FIG. 731. Frontal section of the lower part of the abdomen. Viewed from the front. (Braune.) 



and. when distended, with the abdominal parietes, recto-vesical fascia being 

 interposed. 



The side of the bladder is crossed obliquely from below, upward and forward, 

 by the obliterated hypogastric artery : above and behind this cord the side of the 

 bladder is covered by peritoneum, but below and in front of it the serous covering 

 is wanting, and it is connected to the recto-vesical fascia. The vas deferens passes, 

 in an arched direction, from before backward, along the posterior portion (sub- 

 peritoneal) of the side of the bladder, toward its base, crossing the obliterated 

 hypogastric artery, and passing along the inner side of the ureter. The space 

 occupied by recto-vesical fascia, which lies between the pubic surface and those 

 portions of the sides of the bladder which are uncovered by peritoneum on the one 

 hand, and their antero-inferior relations on the other, is knoVn as the Cavum Retzii 

 or space of Retzius. 



