Anatomy of the Female Pelvis

Cardinal ligament

- Supports: Cervix - Locations: Extends from the lateral surface of the cervix to the lateral fornix of vagina

suspensory ligaments of the ovaries (infundibulopelvic)

- Supports: Ovaries and tubes - Locations: extends from the ovaries to the pelvic side walls

Ovarian ligaments

- Supports: ovaries - Locations: extends from ovary to lateral surface of the uterus

Uterosacral ligament

- Supports: uterus - Locations: extends from uterus to sacrum

Round ligaments

- Supports: uterus (fundus) - Locations: extends from uterine cornua to labia majora between the folds of the broad ligaments

Broad ligaments

- Supports: uterus, tubes and ovaries - Locations: extends from the lateral aspect of the uterus to the side walls of the pelvis

A patient presents to the sonography department with a history of uterine prolapsed. Which of the following best describes this disorder?

A condition that results from the weakening of the pelvic diaphragm muscles and allows for the displacement of the uterus, often through the vagina.

Peritoneal spaces located posterior to the broad ligament are referred to as the:

Adnexa

The right ovarian artery branches off the:

Aorta

The space of Retzius is located:

Between the bladder and pubic bone

the ligament that houses the vasculature of the uterus is the

Cardinal ligament

Prolapse of the pelvic organs most often involves the:

Levator ani and coccygeus muscles

The pelvic muscle group that is located between the coccyx and the pubis is the:

Levator ani muscles

The true pelvis delineated from the false pelvis by the:

Linea terminalis

The pelvic ligament that provides support to the ovary and extends from the ovary to the lateral surface of the uterus is the:

Ovarian ligament

The muscles that may be confused with the ovaries on a pelvic sonogram include the:

Piriformis and iliosoas muscles

The bilateral muscles that are located posterior to and extend from the sacrum to the femoral greater trochanter are the:

Piriformis muscles

Another name for the rectouterine pouch is the:

Pouch of Douglas

What is considered the most dependent part of the peritoneal cavity?

Pouch of Douglas

The arteries that directly supply blood to the functional layer of the endometrium are the:

Radial arteries

Both the straight and spiral arteries are branches of the:

Radial artery

What other term is used to describe the space of Retzius

Retropubic space

The pelvic ligament that provides support to the ovary to the pelvic side wall is the:

Suspensory ligament of the ovary

What structure within the female pelvis lies posterior to the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum?

Uterus

Fluid noted anterior to the uterus would most likely be located within the: A. Pouch of Douglas B. Vesicouterine pouch C. Space of Retzius D. Rectouterine pouch

Vesicouterine pouch

The peripheral arteries of the uterus are the:

arcuate arteries

The pelvic ligament that extends from the lateral aspect of the uterus to the side walls of the pelvis is the:

broad ligament

The sonographic pelvic examination of a female patient reveals an extensive amount of ascites. In the transverse plane, you visualize two echogenic structures extending from the side walls of uterus to the pelvic side walls bilaterally. These structures are most likely the:

broad ligaments

The abdominal aorta bifurcates into the

common iliac arteries

Pelvic muscles appear

hypoechoic

The paired muscles that are located lateral to the uterus and anterior to the iliac crest are the:

iliopsoas muscles

The vagina is located_____ to the uterus

inferior

The right ovarian vein drains directly into the:

inferior vena cava

The uterine artery branches off of the:

internal iliac artery

The innominate bones of the pelvis consist of the:

ischium, ilium, and pubic bones

Left ovary vein blood supply drains into?

left renal vein

The muscle located lateral to the ovaries is the:

obturator internus muscle

The ovary is supplied blood by the:

ovarian artery and uterine artery

Pelvic bones, when visualized on sonography, will appear:

posterior shadowing

Which vessels supply blood to the deeper layers of the myometrium

radial arteries

The uterine arteries supply blood to all of the following except:

rectum

Which of the following are the paired anterior abdominal muscles that extend from the xiphoid process of the sternum to the pubic bone?

rectus abdominis muscles

false pelvis (greater pelvis)

superior to pelvic brim

true pelvis (lesser pelvis)

the inferior portion of the pelvis that contains the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, urinary bladder, small bowel, sigmoid colon, and rectum

Spiral arteries

tiny, coiled arteries that supply blood to the functional layer of the endometrium

The urinary bladder, uterus, and ovaries are:

true pelvis

The anterior cul-de-sac is also referred to as the:

vesicouterine pouch