PELVIS MINOR 435 



of the penis, takes a course in which there are two curves, 

 like the letter (\) placed on its side. When the penis is raised 

 towards the front of the abdomen the curve in the cavernous 

 part of the canal is obliterated, and there is then only one 

 curve, the concavity of which is directed upwards. 



Dissection. Divide the peritoneum along the junction of the 

 superior surface with the fundus of the bladder, and extend the 

 incision to the side wall of the pelvis, to separate each lateral false 

 ligament from the peritoneum posterior to it. Next, divide the 

 peritoneum in the median plane on the superior surface of the 

 bladder and then divide the superior and posterior walls of the 

 viscus in the median plane. After the division is completed 

 dissect the fundus of the bladder from the deferent ducts and 

 the seminal vesicles, taking care not to injure the ureters as they 

 enter the bladder wall. When the separation is completed note 

 the relations of the bladder and ureters to the more posterior 

 structures. 



In the median plane there may be a slight interval be- 

 tween the deferent ducts in which the rectum is separated 

 from the bladder wall merely by the recto-vesical fascia ; that 

 interval, if it is present, corresponds to the middle and upper 

 part of the trigone of the bladder. On each side of it the 

 deferent duct and the seminal vesicle separate the bladder 

 from the anterior surface of the rectum, and, still more later- 

 ally, the apical part of the seminal vesicle lies on the levator 

 ani at the side of the rectum, while the lower part of the 

 ureter intervenes between the vesicle and the bladder wall. 



Dissection. The anterior part of the prostate was divided 

 when the urethra was opened. The dissector should now 

 divide the posterior part in the median plane. The rectum 

 must then be divided in the median plane, and afterwards the 

 sacrum and coccyx must be divided vertically by a saw-cut, 

 to the left of the middle sacral artery. The separation of the 

 two halves of the pelvis from each other must be completed by 

 the division of any remaining soft parts with the knife. All the 

 subsequent stages of dissection and the examination of the rela- 

 tions of the viscera can be quite conveniently carried out on each 

 side separately. 



Relations of Blood Vessels and Nerves to the Pelvic 

 Fascia. The dissector should again note that the blood 

 vessels of the pelvis are placed on the peritoneal surface of 

 the pelvic fascia. It follows, therefore, that all the branches 

 pierce the fascia as they pass to the viscera enclosed in the 

 fascia or as they pass out of the pelvis, and they carry with 

 them prolongations of the fascia which blend with their sheaths. 

 There is one exception to the rule, viz., the obturator artery, 



