The pelvis is a structure with a rather complicated structure, but also very important functions - it actually supports the entire upper body, and also protects the extremely important organs located within it. Find out how the pelvis is built and find out what exact organs are located in it. What diseases can affect the pelvis?
The pelvis(pelvis) is the intermediate structure between the spine and the lower limbs. It can be considered one of the largest bone structures in the body. Its massive structure comes from the fact that it is responsible for carrying the entire weight of the upper part of the human body and transferring the pressure it exerts on the lower limbs.
Pelvis: bones
The pelvis consists of:
- two pelvic bones, which are formed from the connection of the pubic, ischial and iliac bones),
- sacrum
- and coccyx.
In the front part, both pelvic bones are joined by the symphysis pubis. In the posterior region, these bones connect to the sacrum by the sacroiliac joints.
The pelvis is divided into two parts:
- greater pelvis
- and the pelvis minor.
The border between them is marked by the border.
Differences between the pelvis in men and women
In the case of the pelvis, there are noticeable differences in its structure among representatives of different sexes. Both the symphysis and the pelvis in women are lower than in men.
In addition, the bones of the female pelvis have a more delicate structure, and the connective tissue connections between its individual bones tend to loosen under the influence of hormones produced by the ovaries and placenta.
This is important in pregnancy and childbirth as it allows some pelvic mobility during the birth of the baby.
Pelvis: muscles
There are many different muscles located within the pelvis. There are two muscles associated with the bony limitations of this structure:
- pear-shaped muscle
- and the inner obturator muscle.
A very important structure is the pelvic floor, which is formed by the urogenital diaphragm and the pelvic diaphragm.
The pelvic diaphragmis formed by the muscles:
- levator anus,
- sciatic musclecoarse
- and the external anal sphincter.
The levator ani muscle deserves special attention, its individual parts are referred to as the muscle:
- pubo-rectal,
- pubic-coccyx
- and iliac-coccy.
The aforementioned urogenital diaphragm is formed in turn by:
- deep transverse perineum muscle,
- urethral sphincter muscle
- and the perineal membrane.
The pelvic floor muscles also include:
- superficial transverse muscle of the perineum,
- bulbar-spongy muscles
- and the sciatic cavernous muscles.
Pelvis: blood vessels
Arteries
Many important blood vessels run through the pelvis. Among the arteries, we should mention first of all the branch of the abdominal aorta, which iscommon iliac artery . At the level of the sacroiliac joints, it is divided into two branches, which areexternal iliac arteryandinternal iliac artery .
The external iliac artery, after penetrating under the inguinal ligament, is called the femoral artery. Previously, however, it gives off one branch, which is the inferior epigastric artery.
The internal iliac artery, from which they depart from, has significantly more branches:
- iliopsoas artery,
- lateral sacral arteries,
- superior gluteal artery,
- inferior gluteal artery,
- obturator artery,
- umbilical artery,
- inferior bladder artery,
- uterine artery (in women - in men its counterpart is the vas deferens),
- middle rectal artery,
- internal vulvar artery.
veins
Within the pelvis there are not only important arteries, but also venous vessels. One of the most important veins is theinferior vena cava , which is formed from the junction of the common iliac veins. Each of the common iliac veins arises after the connection of the external iliac vein with the internal iliac vein.
The external iliac veinis an extension of the femoral vein. Blood flows to it from the inferior epigastric veins and the deep veins surrounding the hip. The tributaries of the internal iliac vein are the following veins:
- iliopsoas,
- side cross,
- upper buttocks,
- lower buttocks,
- curtain,
- inner vulva.
Tointernal iliac veindrains the blood from numerous iliac venous plexuses, which are plexuses:
- rectal,
- bladder,
- uterine (in men its counterpart is the prostatic plexus),
- vaginal (only found in women).
Pelvis: nerves
Within the pelvis there is the largest of all human nerve plexuses - the sacral plexus. Many important nerves depart from it, such as:
- muscle branches,
- superior gluteal nerve,
- inferior gluteal nerve,
- posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh,
- sciatic nerve,
- vulvar nerve.
Another nerve plexus located inside the pelvis is the coccyx plexus with which the coccyge nerve is associated.
There is also an even pelvic plexus (or lower abdominal plexus).
Elements of the autonomic nervous system are also located in the pelvis:
- the sympathetic part represents the sacral parts of the sympathetic trunks,
- elements of the parasympathetic system in this area of the body are visceral pelvic nerves.
Pelvis: organs
The pelvis houses organs belonging to the digestive, excretory and reproductive systems. It contains the end sections of the large intestine along with the anus, but also the ureter, bladder and urethra.
In women, the pelvic cavity is the location of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina.
For men, the testes, vas deferens, epididymis, bulbourethral glands and an odd prostate gland are associated with the pelvis.
Pelvis: diseases
In general, it can be said that pathological processes that may affect the pelvis can be very much detailed. There are, for example, pelvic fractures, which can occur, for example, during traffic accidents.
Inguinal hernias are quite a common problem, and in recent years there has been a lot of mention of pelvic inflammatory disease, which may be asymptomatic for a long time, and at the same time, infertility may be a consequence of this disease.
There are infections associated with the pelvis, such as urinary tract infections. There are also gender-specific pathologies associated with this structure.
In the case of women, these may include :
- uterine fibroids,
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- or cancers such as cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, or uterine cancer.
In men, they are found in turn:
- inflammation of the testicles and epididymides,
- prostate diseases (such as prostate enlargement or prostate cancer)
- or varicose veinsseed.
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