ARTICULATIONS AND LIGAMENTS. 119 



It is divided into a false and true pelvis by the ilio-pectineal 

 line. 



The false pelvis is situated above the ilio-pectineal line, and 

 corresponds to the expanded iliac fossa?, being bounded laterally 

 by the ossa ilii, and having in front and behind wide intervals. 



The true pelvis includes all that portion below the linea ilio- 

 pectinea, and presents a cavity, superior circumference or inlet, 

 and an inferior circumference or outlet. 



The inlet is heart-shaped, being bounded behind by the 

 promontory of the sacrum, laterally by the linea ilio-pectinea, and 

 in front by the crest and spine of the pubes. 



Its principal diameters in the female are: 



Antero-posterior, from symphysis to vertebral angle, four and 

 three-fourths inches; transverse, across the widest part, five and one- 

 fourth inches; and oblique, from the ilio-pectineal eminence in front to 

 the sacro-iliac symphysis behind, five inches. In the male, these meas- 

 urements are about three-fourths of an inch less in every diameter. 



It transmits the following structures : 



Viscera and Ducts. 



1. Small intestine. 5. Urachus and obliterated hypo- 



2. Rectum. gastric arteries. 



3. Vasa deferentia (in male), 6. Uterus (pregnant). 



round ligaments (in female). 7. Bladder (distended). 



4. Ureters. 8. Peritoneal coverings. 



Vessels. 



1. Superior hsemorrhoidal. 6. Obturator (from deep epigas- 



2. Internal iliac. trie). 



3. Sacra media. 7. Ovarian. 



4. Ilio-lumbar. 8. Pubic branches from external 



5. Branches of vasa intestini ten- epigastric arteries. 



uis. 9. Lymphatic vessels. 



Nerves. 



1. Sympathetic. 3. Obturator. 



2. Brandies from hypogastric 4. Lumbo-sacral cord. 



plexus. 



The cavity of the pelvis is bounded behind by the sacrum and 

 coccyx, in front by the symphysis, and laterally by the body of 

 the ischium, forming a curved canal, widest in the middle. It 

 contains, in the recent state, the organs of generation, rectum, 

 bladder, and their vessels, nerves, ducts, etc. Its axis corre- 

 sponds to the concavity of the sacrum and coccyx. 



Its depth in front, at the symphysis, is about one and a half 

 in the middle axial line, three and a half behind, in males four 

 and a half to possibly five and a half. 



