PELVIS MINOR 



447 



flection of peritoneum, in the infant at birth, is at the level of 

 the base of the prostate, which, at that period, is relatively 

 little developed. 



Ureters in the Pelvis Minor. Having crossed the lower 

 end of the common iliac artery, or the upper end of the 

 external iliac artery, at the brim of the pelvis minor, each 

 ureter descends, along the front of the hypogastric artery and 

 its anterior division, till the level of the visceral layer of the 

 pelvic fascia is reached, i.e., the level of the spine of the 

 ischium. It then turns medially and forwards on the upper 

 surface of the visceral fascia. In that part of its course it 

 passes below to the deferent duct (Fig. 192), pierces the 

 vesical layer of the visceral fascia, and enters the bladder 



Reflection of peri- 

 toneum from 

 bladder to anterior 

 wall of abdomen 



Bladder 2 S- s ^-''l^ Jf^^.1 Recto-vesical 



peritoneal 

 reflection 



Bulb of the urethra 



M. sphincter ani 



externus 



M. sphincter ani 

 externus 



FIG. 212. Median section through Pelvis of a newly-born full-time 

 Male Infant. 



R. Rectum. 



Sa. Sacrum. 



S. Symphysis pubis. 



wall at the corresponding posterior angle, immediately in 

 front of the upper end of the seminal vesicle. Its point of 

 entry into the bladder wall is about 37 mm. (one and a half 

 inches) above the base of the prostate, and about 50 mm. (two 

 inches) from its fellow of the opposite side. It is covered on 

 its anterior and medial surfaces by the peritoneum, which it 

 raises into a ridge, and the peritoneal covered surfaces are in 

 relation, on the right side, with coils of small intestine, and, 

 on the left side, with the pelvic colon. To its lateral side, 

 from above downwards, lie the umbilical artery, the obturator 

 nerve, the obturator artery, the inferior vesical artery, and, 

 occasionally, the middle haemorrhoidal artery, but that vessel 

 may pass behind the ureter. 



The obturator vein, which lies at a lower level than the 

 artery, may pass either lateral to or medial to the ureter, on its 



