PELVIS MINOR 475 



ment consists of a very few transverse fibres on the pelvic 

 aspect of the joint. 



Ligamentum Pubicum Superius. The superior pubic ligament, 

 like the preceding, is weak. It is placed upon the upper 

 aspect of the symphysis, and stretches between the crests of 

 the two pubic bones. 



Ligamentum Arcuatum Pubis (O.T. Sub-pubic Ligament). 

 The arcuate pubic ligament is situated on the lower aspect of 

 the joint, and it rounds off the apex of the pubic arch. It is a 

 strong band, somewhat triangular in shape, which is attached, 

 on each side, to the inferior ramus of the pubic bone, and 

 above, to the fibre-cartilaginous disc. Between the crescentic 

 lower margin of this ligament and the upper border of the 

 urogenital diaphragm there is an oval aperture through 

 which the dorsal vein of the penis passes backwards. 



Dissection. The saw should now be used, and a portion 

 sliced off from the front of the interpubic joint. The intervening 

 plate of fibro-cartilage can in this way be studied. It will be 

 seen to be thicker and denser in front than behind. As a 

 general rule, a small synovial cavity will be found towards its 

 posterior part, and nearer its upper than its lower end. 



Membrana Obturatoria (O.T. Thyroid Membrane). The 

 obturator membrane stretches across the obturator foramen. 

 It is attached to the circumference of the foramen, except at 

 its upper part, where it bridges across the groove on the 

 inferior surface of the superior ramus of the pubic bone, and 

 converts it into a canal for the escape of the obturator vessels 

 and nerve. At that point it is continuous, over the upper 

 border of the obturator internus muscle, with the parietal 

 pelvic fascia. 



FEMALE PELVIS MINOR. 

 The contents of the female pelvis are the following : 



Viscera. 



The pelvic colon and rectum. 1 



The urinary bladder, the urethra, and the ureters. 1 



The uterus and vagina. 1 



The uterine 

 appendages. j ^riigainents. 



1 Strictly speaking, the urinary bladder and urethra, the vagina and the 

 lower part of the rectum, lie in the visceral layer of the pelvic fascia. 



