⦿ The female pelvis because of its

characteristics, aids in child birth. The bony

pelvis in normal standing posture transmits
the body weight of head, trunk and the
upper extremities to the lower extremities.
In female it is adapted for child bearing. The
obstetrical anatomy of a typical female
pelvis is best considered as one unit.
⦿ The primary function of the pelvic girdle is to allow
movement of the body, especially walking and running. It
permits the person to sit and kneel. The women pelvis is
adapted for child bearing, and because of its increased
width and rounded brim women are less speedy than men.
⦿ The pelvis transmits the weight of the trunk to the legs,
acting as a bridge between the femur. This makes it
necessary for the sacro-iliac joint to the immensely strong
and virtually immobile. The pelvis also takes the weight of
the sitting body on to the ischial tuberosities.
⦿ The pelvis affords protection to the pelvic organs and, to a
lesser extent, to the abdominal contents. The sacrum
transmits the cauda equina and distributes the nerves to
the various parts of the pelvis.
Pelvic bones
⦿ There are four pelvic bones
◼ Two innominate( nameless) or hip bones
◼ One sacrum
◼ One coccyx
⦿ Innominate bones: each innominate bone is composed
of three parts
o Ilium
o Ischium
o Pubic bones
⦿ The ilium- ilium is the larger flared out part. When the
hand is placed on the hip it rests on the iliac crest,
which is the upper border. At the front of the iliac crest
can be felt a bony prominence known as the anterior
superior iliac spine .
A short distance below it is the anterior inferior
iliac spine. There are two similar points at the other
end of the iliac crest, namely the posterior superior and
the posterior inferior iliac spines. The concave anterior
surface of the ilium is the iliac fossa.
⦿ The ischium- ischium is the thick lower part.
It has a large prominence known as the
ischium tuberosity, on which the body rests
when sitting. Behind and a little above the
tuberosity is an inward projection, the
ischial spine. in labour the station of the
fetal head is estimated in relation to the
ischial spines.
⦿ The pubic bone- this bone forms the
anterior part. It has a body and two oar like
projections, the superior ramus and the
inferior ramus. The two pubic bones meet at
the symphysis pubis and the two inferior
rami from the pubic arch, merging into a
similar ramus and the ischium. The space
enclosed by the body of the pubic bone, the
rami and the ischium is called the obturator
foramen.
⦿ The innominate bone contains a deep cup to articulate
with the head of the femur. This is termed as
Acetabulum . all three parts of the bone contribute to
the acetabulum in the following proportions: 2/5th
ilium, 2/5th ischium and 1/5th pubic bone.
⦿ On the lower border of the innominate bone are found
two curves. One extends from the posterior inferior
iliac spine up to the ischial spine and is called the
greater sciatic notch. It is wide and rounded. The
other lies between the ischial spine and the ischial
tuberosity and is the lesser sciatic notch.
⦿ Sacrum: the sacrum is a wedge shaped bone
consisting of five fused vertebrae. The upper border
of the first sacral vertebra juts forward and id
known as the sacral promontory. The anterior
surface of the sacrum is concave and is referred to
as the hollow of sacrum. Laterally the sacrum
extends into a wing or ala. Four pairs of holes or
foramina pierce the sacrum and through these,
nerves from the Cauda Equina emerge to supply the
pelvic organs. The posterior surface is roughened to
receive attachments of muscles.
⦿ Coccyx: coccyx is a vestigial tail.
the
consists It fused vertebra forming a
of four
small triangular bone. With its base
uppermost articulating with the lower end of
the sacrum. During labour it moves
backward, having more space forthe
delivery of the fetus this is called nodding.
Pelvic joints
There are four pelvic joints
⦿ One symphysis pubis
⦿ Two sacroiliac joints
⦿ One sacro-coccygeal joint
⦿ The symphysis pubis is formed at the junction of the
two pubic bones, which are united by a pad of
cartilage.
⦿ The sacroiliac joints – these are the strongest joints in
the body. They join the sacrum to the ilium and thus
connect the spine to the pelvis.
⦿ The sacro coccygeal joint – this joint is formed where
the base of the coccyx articulate with the tip of the
sacrum.
⦿ In the non-pregnant state there is very little
movement in these joints, but during pregnancy
endocrine activity causes the ligaments to soften,
which allows the joints to give. This may provide
more room for the fetal head as it passes through
the pelvis. The symphysis pubis may separate
slightly in later pregnancy. If it widens appreciably,
the degree of movement permitted may give rise to
pain on walking.
⦿ The sacro-coccygeal joint permits coccyx to the
deflected backward during the birth of the head.
The sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments complete
the greater and lesser sciatic foraminae
Pelvic ligaments
Each of the pelvic joints is held together by ligaments
⦿ Interpubic ligaments at the symphysis pubis
⦿ Sacro-iliac ligaments
⦿ Sacro-coccygeal ligaments
⦿ There are two other ligaments important in
midwifery
⦿ The sacro-tuberous ligament
⦿ The sacro-spinous ligament
⦿ The sacro-tuberous ligament runs from the
sacrum to the ischial tuberosity and the
sacro-spinous ligament from the sacrum to
the ischial spine. These two ligaments cross
the sciatic notch and from the posterior wall
of the pelvic outlet.
 The pelvis is broadly divided into true pelvis and false
pelvis.
⦿ The false pelvis: is divided by the linea terminalis
into the false pelvis above this demarcation and the
true pelvis below it. The false pelvis is the portion
above the pelvic brim. It has no obstetric significance
relevant to the passage of the fetus through the
pelvis.
⦿ The true pelvis: the true pelvis constitutes the bony
passage through which the fetus must pass through to
be born vaginally. Therefore, its construction planes
and diameters are of utmost interest in obstetrics.
Boundaries of true pelvis;
The true pelvis has the following as its boundaries
⦿ Superiorly it is bounded by the sacral
promonitory, linea terminalis and the upper
margin of pubic bones.
⦿ Inferiorly it is bounded by the inferior margins of
the ischial tuberosities and the tip of the coccyx.
⦿ Laterally it has sacroiliac notches and ligaments,
and inner surface of ischial bones
⦿ Anteriorly by the obturator foramina an dthe
posterior surface of the symphysis pubis, pubic
bones and the ascending rami of ischial bones.
⦿ Posteriorly bounded by the anterior surface
of sacrum and coccyx.
⦿ The true pelvis has three parts namely brim, a
cavity and an outlet
⦿ The brim or inlet – its boundaries are the sacral
promontory and wings of the sacrum behind the
iliac bones in the front. The shape of the pelvic
inlet is transversely oval, with a slight posterior
indentation caused by the sacral promontory.
 Land marks of the brim: the inlet has the landmarks,
these are the fixed anatomical points on the brim.
1. Sacral promontory
2. Sacral wing or sacral ala
3. Sacro-iliac joint
4. The ileo-pectineal line- the edge formed at the
inward aspect of the ilium
5. The ilio-pectineal eminence- a roughened area
where the superior ramus of the pubic bone meets
the ilium
6. Superior ramus of the pubic bone
7. Upper inner border of the body of pubic bone.
8. Upper inner border of the symphysis pubis.
⦿ The pelvic cavity
This extends from the pelvic brim to the pelvic outlet. It
forms the curve of Carus, which the fetus has to navigate
in order to be born and has no specific landmarks.
The pelvic outlet
This is either an ovoid or diamond-shaped space; its
perimeter is partially comprised of ligaments. The
landmarks of the pelvic outlet are as follows:
⦿ _ Lower border of the symphysis pubis
⦿ _ Pubic arch
⦿ _ Ischial spines and ischial tuberosities
⦿ _ Sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments
⦿ _ Lower aspect of the sacrum and the coccyx
The diameters of the pelvis
The major obstetric interest in the female bony pelvis is that
it is not distensible, with only minor degrees of movement
being possible at the symphysis pubis and sacroiliac joints.
The various dimensions of the pelvis are therefore

particularly significant in the context of childbirth and the

successful passage of the fetus through the bony pelvic

structure. The most common type of female pelvis

(gynaecoid) is considered to be the optimal shape and size

for childbirth; this is providing the fetus isn’t above average

size and the pelvis isn’t smaller than average, or where

The pelvic brim
There are three diameters that are measured and, as
a
midwifery student, you will frequently hear these
being
referred to:
⦿ _ Anterior-posterior diameter
⦿ _ Oblique diameter (left and right)
⦿ _ Transverse diameter
The diagrams presented here show the points from
where these measurements are taken and the
associated
Table gives a clear format for the measurement of
the pelvic canal in centimetres.
The puborectalis is actually a part of the
pubococcygeus muscle that wraps the
around aspect of the rectum forming a sling that
posterior
holds the rectum forward in the pelvis.

The pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus muscles

make up the levator ani. The muscles of the
levator ani are important supportive muscles for
the midline organs of the pelvis. Any weakness in
these muscles can cause clinical problems of
urinary or fecal incontinence.
The levator ani muscles otherwise known as the pelvic
diaphragm or pubovisceralis (pubococcygeus) and
iliococcygeus, are composed of striated muscle fibre. They
are covered by fascia on their superior and inferior aspects.
The anterior midline cleft in the muscles is known as the
urogenital hiatus, through which the urethra, vagina and
anorectum pass.
The perineal membrane is sometimes called the urogenital
diaphragm, or the triangular ligament. It lies inferior to the
levator ani and attaches the edges of the vagina to the
ischiopubic ramus, provides lateral attachments for the
perineal body and assists in the support of the urethra. It is
suggested that it has a greater supportive function when
the levator ani muscles are relaxed.
levator ani is considered as several separate muscle parts:

•pubovaginalis
•coccygeus
•iliococcygeus
•pubococcygeus
•Puborectalis

origin:
from a tendinous arch between the pubis and ischial spine
on the internal surface of the pelvis

insertion:
perineal body
external wall of anal canal
anococcygeal ligament
coccyx
Pubovaginalis

originate from the posterior pelvic surface of the body of the pubis bone.
Fibres pass inferiorly, medially and posteriorly.

inserts into the central perineal tendon posterior to the vagina.

The levator ani muscle

seen from above
sacral promontory
looking over (SAC)
the
showing the pubovaginal
muscle (PVM). The urethra,
vagina, and rectum have been
transected just above the
pelvic floor. PAM = puboanal
muscle; ATLA = arcus
tendineus levator ani; and ICM
= iliococcygeal muscle
The arcus tendineus
levator ani (ATLA);
external anal sphincter
(EAS); puboanal muscle
(PAM); perineal body (PB)
uniting the 2 ends of the
puboperineal muscle
(PPM); iliococcygeal
muscle (ICM);
puborectal muscle (PRM).
The arcus tendineus fascia of the pelvis (ATFP) is a linear fascial thickening of
the obturator fascia attached anteriorly to the pubic bone and posteriorly to
the ischial spine and is believed to be of great importance in the continence
mechanism
levator ani Muscle showed that it was made up of large diameter type I
(slow twitch) and type II (fast twitch) striated muscle fibres, with muscle
spindles observed.

Muscle activity may be recorded by electromyograph (EMG) from the

levator ani muscle ‘at rest’ and even in sleep; presumably the type I
fibres are responsible for this. By contrast, type II fibres are highly
fatiguable but produce a high order of power on contraction.

All these facts support the contention that the levator ani muscle is a
skeletal muscle adapted to maintain tone over prolonged periods and
equipped to resist sudden rises in intra-abdominal pressure, as for
example on coughing, sneezing, lifting or running.

It has been shown that there is reflex activity such that a fast-acting
contraction occurs in the distal third of the urethra, which contributes to
the compressive forces of the proximal urethra during raised intra-
abdominal pressure
The perineal body is a central cone-shaped fibromuscular
structure which lies just in front of the anus. The cone is about
4.5 cm high and its base, which forms part of the perineum, is
approximately 4 cm in diameter. Anteriorally it fuses with the
vaginal wall, the superficial transverse perineal muscles, the
perineal membrane and the levator ani muscles insert into it.
The perineal body also affords support to the posterior wall of
the vagina. The integrity of the perineal body and its
connections have been thought to be of considerable importance
in the supportive role of the pelvic floor. This explains the
concern that obstetricians have had for the welfare of the
perineal body in labour, particularly in the second stage when,
toward delivery, the pelvic floor stretches considerably and
provides a gutter to guide the foetal head towards and down the
birth canal.