The pelvic cavity is the anatomical space bounded by the bones of the pelvis . The pelvic cavity contains reproductive organs , the bladder , the rectum, and many other organs and anatomical structures. Due to the fact that these structures are located in a relatively small space, pathological changes in one organ can affect the function of neighboring ones. Thus, the rectum enlarged due to atonic constipation can have a compression effect on the bladder, and trauma to the sacral nerve during childbirth can lead to anal incontinence.
| Pelvic cavity | |
|---|---|
| lat cavitas pelvis | |
| Blood supply | |
| Venous outflow | |
| Lymph | nodi lymphoidei iliaci interni |
| Catalogs | |
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Borders
The anterior border of the pelvic cavity is the pubic joint , the posterior is the sacrum and tailbone .
Two sections are distinguished in the pelvic cavity - the upper, wider (large pelvis), and lower (small pelvis). The pelvic cavity is the true pelvic cavity in the narrow sense. The border between the pelvic and the pelvis is the border line passing through the cape of the sacrum, the arched lines of the ilium, the crests of the pubic bones and the upper edge of the pubic symphysis.
Thus, the small pelvis (or “true pelvis”) contains anatomical structures located below the boundary line. For example, the sacral celiac nerves extending in the S2-S4 segments are located in the “true” pelvic cavity, and the femoral nerves extending in the L2-L4 segments and located in the pelvis are not pelvic formations in the narrow sense.