PELVIS 591 



injuring the peritoneum, by puncturing the bladder, with a 

 trocar and cannula, immediately above the symphysis in the 

 middle line. 



Laterally, also, the line of peritoneal reflection is raised 

 until it may appear to leave the lateral surface of the bladder 

 along the line of the ductus deferens, as this passes backwards 



Prostate 



Urethra 



FIG. 236. Medial section through a Male Pelvis, in which the Bladder 

 was greatly distended. 



B. Bladder. 

 R. Rectum. 



S. Symphysis pubis. 

 Sa. Sacrum. 



along the side wall of the pelvis, or even as high as the level of 

 the umbilical artery. 



Posteriorly the sacro-genital folds are opened out and 

 obliterated to provide a covering for the expanding basal 

 portion of the bladder, but the level of the reflection of the 

 peritoneum which forms the bottom of the recto-vesical excava- 

 tion undergoes no change. When the rectum is distended the 

 recto-vesical reflection assumes a higher level, but this is not 

 due to any change in the position of the peritoneum in 



