Blood Vessels / Nerves of Pelvis

Where does the abdominal aorta bifurcate?

L4

What does the abdominal aorta bifurcate into?

Right and left common iliac arteries

What are the branches of the external iliac artery?

Deep circumflex iliac and inferior epigastric

What anteriorly crosses the internal iliac artery at the pelvic brim?

Ureter

What does the iliolumbar artery divide into?

Iliac and lumbar branches

What does the lateral sacral artery anastomose with?

Median sacral artery

The superior gluteal artery exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen superior to what muscle?

Piriformis

What is the longest artery of the posterior trunk?

Superior gluteal artery

What are the branches of the posterior trunk?

Iliolumbar artery

Lateral sacral artery

Superior gluteal artery

What artery exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen between the piriformis and coccygeus muscles?

Internal pudendal artery

What artery gives off the superior vesical arteries, which supply the superior part of the bladder?

Umbilical artery

One of the superior vesical arteries usually give rise to what?

Artery of ductus deferens

What artery is homologous to the artery of the ductus deferens in males?

Uterine artery

What artery arises from a common trunk with the uterine or directly off the internal iliac artery?

Vaginal artery

Where does the gonadal artery branch from?

Abdominal aorta

Where does the superior rectal artery branch from?

Inferior mesenteric artery

Where does the median sacral artery arise?

behind bifurcation of abdominal aorta

What do the left and right common iliac veins unite to form?

Inferior vena cava

On what side is the common iliac vein longer?

Left side

What do most pelvic structures drain into?

Caval system

What pelvic structures have portal drainage?

Rectum and anal canal

What forms the sacral plexus?

Lumbosacral trunk - L4/5

Anterior primary rami of S1-S4

Where does the sacral plexus lie?

Anterior surface of piriformis

What nerve is compromised in Trendelenburg gait?

Superior gluteal nerve

What nerve supplies the gluteus maximus muscle?

Inferior gluteal nerve

What is the segmental innervation of the superior gluteal nerve?

L4-S1

What is the segmental innervation of the inferior gluteal nerve?

L5-S2

What is the segmental innervation of the sciatic nerve?

L4-S3

What is the largest nerve of the body?

Sciatic nerve

What is the segmental innervation of the nerve to obturator internus muscle?

L5-S2

What muscles prevent the pelvis from slumping to th3e unsupported side?

Anterior gluteal muscles

What muscle functions in trunk control and in standing from seated position?

Gluteus maximus

What can piriformis syndrome lead to?

Sciatica

What can impingement of nerves to levator ani and coccygeus muscles affect?

Pelvic floor integrity

Urinary and fecal incontinence

Parturition

What can damage/impingement of the nerve to external anal sphincter lead to?

Fecal incontinence

What can impingement of the pudendal nerve cause?

Sexual dysfunction

What forms the coccygeal plexus?

ventral primary rami of S4, S5, and coccygeal nerve

What is formed by the left and right sympathetic trunks joining together in front of the coccyx?

Ganglion impar

What does the superior hypogastric plexus contain?

Sympathetic fibers from the lumbar splanchnic nerve

Visceral afferent fibers

T/F: The superior hypogastric plexus contains parasympathetic fibers.

False - only sympathetic and visceral afferent fibers

What kind of fibers are found in the sacral splanchnic nerves?

Preganglionic sympathetic

What kind of nerves are found in the pelvic splanchnic nerves?

parasympathetic nerves