Biology 122 Spring, 2008

Laboratory 18

Pelvic Viscera and their Blood Supply

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this laboratory you should:

1. Be able to demonstrate and describe the peritoneum and its relationships to the pelvic viscera, the peritoneal pouches, and the ligaments associated with the pelvic viscera. Be familiar with the following structures:

In the female,

a) fusion of peritoneum to the surface of bladder and uterus

b) formation of broad ligament and its parts (mesometrium, mesosalpinx and mesovarium).

c) formation of pouches (rectouterine and vesicouterine) and the rectouterine fold formed by peritoneum stretched over the uterosacral ligament.

d) the thickening of endopelvic fascia to form the cardinal ligament.

e) retropubic space.

f) median and medial umbilical ligaments and folds.

In the male,

a) rectovesical pouch

b) retropubic (prevesical) space

c) puboprostatic ligaments

2. Understand the structure, position, and relationships of the following structures of the rectum:

a) transverse rectal folds

b) rectal ampulla

c) anal canal, anal columns, anal valves and anal sinuses

d) pectinate (dentate or mucocutaneous) line

e) internal and external anal sphincters

3 Know the basic parts and significance of these features of the urinary bladder:

a) neck, apex and base (fundus) of bladder

b) urethral orifice

c) orifices for ureters

d) interureteric fold

e) vesical trigone

f) detrusor muscle

4. Know the structure, functions, and relationships of the internal genital organs in

the female:

a) ovary

b) uterine tubes (fimbria, infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus, uterine parts)

c) uterus (fundus, body and cervix)

d) vagina with anterior and posterior fornices

5. Know the structure, function and relationships of the internal reproductive organs in the male:

a) prostate

b) seminal vessicles

c) bulbourethral glands

6. Understand the orientation and course of the urethra in the male and female. In the male know the basic subdivisions (prostatic, membraneous and penile) and the internal features of the prostatic part. (prostatic utricle, ejaculatory ducts, prostatic sinus, and orifices of the prostatic ducts).

7. Know the differences in innervation, circulation and lymphatic drainage relative to the pectinate line; also know the significance of these differences.

8. Know the branches of the aorta (middle sacral) and common iliac arteries that are distributed to, or run through, the pelvis. Concentrate on major branches and branches to major organs (Obturator, Umbilical, Inferior vesicle, Uterine, Vaginal, Internal pudendal, Femoral, Inferior epigastric). For each branch you should know its relationship to an associated foramen and/or its general distribution. See Table of Pelvic Arteries on website for a synopsis.

9. Review the course and distribution of gonadal arteries and veins (testicular and ovarian) and be able to relate the venous drainage of the testis to the lymphatic drainage.

10. Review the organization of the spaces (muscular and vascular lacunae) under the inguinal ligament and the structures associated with these spaces.

PRELAB PREPARATION

1. Read the parts of M&D on the peritoneal relationships of the pelvis, pelvic vasculature, male and female reproductive organs, the urinary bladder and the rectum, and the innervation of the internal pelvic organs (pp 376-433). Concentrate on features of the blood supply, venous and lymphatic drainage, and the innervation.

2. Study material on the course website entitled “Synopsis of Pelvis Nerves” and “Table of Pelvic Arteries.”