1282 



THE UKO-GENITAL SYSTEM. 



basal surface of the contracted and empty bladder receives a covering from the 

 peritoneum, since the seminal vesicles and terminal portions of the ductus de- 

 ferentes intervene as they lie in the anterior wall of the recto-vesical or recto- 

 genital pouch. When the bladder is distended the posterior border, separating 

 the upper and basal surfaces, is rounded out, and the peritoneum forming the 

 horizontal shelf, just described, is taken up (compare Figs. 989 and 990). It is 



Superior peritoneal lig. 



of b ladder 

 Urinary bladder 

 Sacro-genital fold . 

 Recto-vesical pouch 



Ductus deferens - 



Retro-pubic pad of fat 



Prostatic urethra-- 



Dorsal vein of penis 



Corpus cavernosum penis 



Corpus cavernosum 



urethrse 



Anal canal 

 Membranous urethra 

 Cavernous portion of urethra Bulb of urethra 



FIG. 1001. MEDIAN SECTION OP THE PELVIS IN AN ADULT MALE. 



The coils of small intestine which lay within the pelvis have been lifted out in order to give a view of the side 



wall of the pelvic cavity. 



to be specially noted that the level of the peritoneal reflection, forming the bottom 

 of the recto-vesical pouch, does not vary much, as regards its relationship to the 

 prostate, during distension and contraction of the bladder (Figs. 989 and 990). 



ri'An examination of median sections of the pelvis shows the great danger run by the ampullae 

 of the ductus deferentes in any operation for reaching the bladder through the anterior wall of 

 the rectum, and the difficulty in avoiding injury to the peritoneum. 



The term " posterior false (or peritoneal) ligament " is often applied to the some- 

 what variable crescentic fold of peritoneum which bounds, on each side, the 

 entrance to the recto-vesical or recto-genital pouch, and which often unites with 



