Anatomy
Male Pelvis Part 2
Compiled By Muchiri Simon
Edition: 2024/25
, Medical & Nursing | Anatomy I of V pages
1. What are the ischio-anal fossae
The ischioanal fossae are fat-filled spaces in the anal triangle. They allow recto-anal and vaginal expansion. In
2. Describe the formation of the ischio-anal fossae
Because the levator ani muscles course medially from their origin on the lateral pelvic walls, above, to the anal
and the urogenital hiatus below, inverted wedge-shaped gutters occur between the levator ani muscles and
pelvic walls as the two strucutres diverge inferiorlyIn the anal triangle, these gutters on each side of the anal
3. Describe the structure of the ischio-anal fossae
lateral walls- iscium, obturator internus and sacrotuberous ligamentmedial wall- levator ani musclethe medial
lateral walls converge superiorly where the levator ani attaches to the fascia covering the obturator internus-
4. Describe the anterior recesses of the ischio-anal fossae
ischio-anal fossae are continuous anteriorly with recesses that project into the urogenital triangle superior to
deep perineal pouchshaped like 3-sided pyramids that have been tilted on their sidesapex- closed and points
the pubisbase open- continuous posteriorly with its related ischio-anal fossaeinferior wall- deep perineal
wall- levator ani muscle and the superlateral wall is mainly by the obturator internusthe ischio-anal fossae and
5. Describe abscesses in the ischio-anal fossae
The anal mucosae is vulnerable to injury and may easily be torn by hard faecesOccasionally, patients develop
and infection of the anal canal (sinuses or crypts)- the infection can spread between the sphincters, producing
fistulas- the infection can tract superiorly to the pelvic cavity or laterally to the ischio-anal fossaeCare must be
6. What is the ductus deferens
Long muscular duct that transports spermatozoa from the tail of the epididymis in the scrotum to the
7. Describe the passage of the ducts deferens
leaves the lower end of the epididymis to ascend in the spermatic cord and passes through the inguinal canal
the anterior abdominal wallafter passing through the deep inguinal ring, the ductus deferens turns medially
the lateral side of the inferior epigastric and crosses the external iliac artery and vein at the pelvic inlet to enter
pelvic cavitthe duct descends medially on the pelvic wall, deep to the peritoneum and crosses the ureter
(posteriorly to the bladder too) to reach the posterior of the prostate here it dilates, forming the ampulla, before
8. What is a vasectomy
Due to thick smooth muscle wall it is easily palpable between the superficial inguinal ring and testes- and
it can be accessed between the skin and superficial fascia it is amenable to surgical dissection and divisionthis
9. What is meant by the spermatic cord
the collective name for the deferns, the testicular and other vessels and nerves and various connective tissue
muscular (cremaster) coverings derived from the abdominal musculature that form the inguinal canal- it
10. List the contents of the spermatic cord
ductus defernsartery to the ductus deferens from the inferior vesical arterytesticular artery (from abdominal
pampiniform plexus of veinsthe cremasteric artery and vein (small vessels associated with cremasteric
branch of the genitofemoral nerve (innervation to the cremasteric muscle)sympathetic and parasympathetic
11. Describe the formation of fascial coverings of the spermatic cord
Anatomy 2024/25 Edition
Male Pelvis Part 2
Compiled By Muchiri Simon
Edition: 2024/25
, Medical & Nursing | Anatomy I of V pages
1. What are the ischio-anal fossae
The ischioanal fossae are fat-filled spaces in the anal triangle. They allow recto-anal and vaginal expansion. In
2. Describe the formation of the ischio-anal fossae
Because the levator ani muscles course medially from their origin on the lateral pelvic walls, above, to the anal
and the urogenital hiatus below, inverted wedge-shaped gutters occur between the levator ani muscles and
pelvic walls as the two strucutres diverge inferiorlyIn the anal triangle, these gutters on each side of the anal
3. Describe the structure of the ischio-anal fossae
lateral walls- iscium, obturator internus and sacrotuberous ligamentmedial wall- levator ani musclethe medial
lateral walls converge superiorly where the levator ani attaches to the fascia covering the obturator internus-
4. Describe the anterior recesses of the ischio-anal fossae
ischio-anal fossae are continuous anteriorly with recesses that project into the urogenital triangle superior to
deep perineal pouchshaped like 3-sided pyramids that have been tilted on their sidesapex- closed and points
the pubisbase open- continuous posteriorly with its related ischio-anal fossaeinferior wall- deep perineal
wall- levator ani muscle and the superlateral wall is mainly by the obturator internusthe ischio-anal fossae and
5. Describe abscesses in the ischio-anal fossae
The anal mucosae is vulnerable to injury and may easily be torn by hard faecesOccasionally, patients develop
and infection of the anal canal (sinuses or crypts)- the infection can spread between the sphincters, producing
fistulas- the infection can tract superiorly to the pelvic cavity or laterally to the ischio-anal fossaeCare must be
6. What is the ductus deferens
Long muscular duct that transports spermatozoa from the tail of the epididymis in the scrotum to the
7. Describe the passage of the ducts deferens
leaves the lower end of the epididymis to ascend in the spermatic cord and passes through the inguinal canal
the anterior abdominal wallafter passing through the deep inguinal ring, the ductus deferens turns medially
the lateral side of the inferior epigastric and crosses the external iliac artery and vein at the pelvic inlet to enter
pelvic cavitthe duct descends medially on the pelvic wall, deep to the peritoneum and crosses the ureter
(posteriorly to the bladder too) to reach the posterior of the prostate here it dilates, forming the ampulla, before
8. What is a vasectomy
Due to thick smooth muscle wall it is easily palpable between the superficial inguinal ring and testes- and
it can be accessed between the skin and superficial fascia it is amenable to surgical dissection and divisionthis
9. What is meant by the spermatic cord
the collective name for the deferns, the testicular and other vessels and nerves and various connective tissue
muscular (cremaster) coverings derived from the abdominal musculature that form the inguinal canal- it
10. List the contents of the spermatic cord
ductus defernsartery to the ductus deferens from the inferior vesical arterytesticular artery (from abdominal
pampiniform plexus of veinsthe cremasteric artery and vein (small vessels associated with cremasteric
branch of the genitofemoral nerve (innervation to the cremasteric muscle)sympathetic and parasympathetic
11. Describe the formation of fascial coverings of the spermatic cord
Anatomy 2024/25 Edition
