PELVIS 557 



space, and the rectum and pelvic colon the posterior part. 

 The difference is to be found in the generative organs and 

 their blood-vessels. It is necessary, therefore, to describe 

 the male and the female pelvis separately. 



MALE PELVIS. 



The male pelvis contains the following structures : 



T The rectum and the pelvic colon. 1 



The bladder, with the lower portions of the ureters, 

 Viscera. the prostate, and the prostatic part of the 



urethra. 1 



V The clucti deferentes and the vesiculse seminales. l 

 The hypogastric vessels and their branches and 



tributaries. 



The superior hsemorrhoidal vessels. 

 Venous plexuses associated with the viscera. % 

 The pelvic plexuses of the sympathetic system and 



Blood- Vessels. 



Nerves. 



their offshoots. 



The obturator nerves. 

 ^.,, f,. f The extraperitoneal fat. 



Other Structures. ^ The pdvic F part of the peritoneum. 



The following structures lie between the pelvic fascia and 

 the bony and muscular strata of the pelvic wall : 



( The middle sacral vessels. 

 Blood- Vessels. \ The parietal branches of the hypogastric vessels 



after they have pierced the fascia. 



*T ( The sacral and sacro-coccygeal plexuses. 



\ The pelvic parts of the sympathetic cords. 



General Position of the Viscera. The pelvic colon and 

 the rectum occupy the back part of the cavity, the colon 

 extending in flexuous curves from the left margin of the pelvic 

 inlet to the middle of the third piece of the sacrum, where it 

 becomes the rectum. The rectum follows the concavity of 

 the sacrum and coccyx, and runs forwards to the base of the 

 bladder. The bladder lies in the front part of the cavity 

 behind the pubic bones, and in front of the rectum. The 

 seminal vesicles lie in a plane between the bladder and the 

 rectum, and the ducti deferentes (O.T. vasa deferentia), having 

 crossed the brim, behind the origins of the inferior epigastric 

 arteries, run downwards and backwards, and then turn 

 medially, across the ureters, to gain the base of the bladder 



1 Strictly speaking, the bladder, the prostate, the seminal vesicles, and the 

 lower parts of the rectum, ducti deferentes and ureters are not in the pelvis, for 

 they are embedded in the pelvic fascia and therefore lie in the pelvic wall. 



