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Bassett Collection of Stereoscopic Images of Human Anatomy

Dissection of male pelvis from a lateral approach

Close-up view of vessels and nerves anterior to coccyx

Image #173-3

KEYWORDS: Peripheral nervous system, Vasculature.

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Dissection of male pelvis from a lateral approach
Close-up view of vessels and nerves anterior to coccyx
The lower part of the dissection illustrated in the previous view is shown in this photograph. A plexus formed by the right lateral sacral artery (7) and the middle sacral artery (20) lies anterior to the coccyx. At the level of the end piece of the coccyx the glomus coccygeum (24) is visible. The sympathetic trunks converge behind the artery slightly below the glomus. No ganglion impar is present, however.
  1. Dural filum terminale (right coccygeal nerve fused to posterior aspect of filum and not visible in view)
  2. Vertebral canal (pointer indicates interior surface of superficial dorsal sacrococcygeal ligament covering sacral hiatus)
  3. Sacral nerve V
  4. Rami communicantes
  5. Sacral nerve IV
  6. Nerve to Levator ani muscle and coccygeus muscle
  7. Branch of lateral sacral artery
  8. Upper pointer: Sacral nerve V (visible through opening in tendon of coccygeus muscle) Lower pointer: Branch of lateral sacral artery
  9. Coccygeus muscle
  10. Anococcygeal ligament
  11. Anal canal (remnant cut across close to pelvic diaphragm)
  12. Internal vertebral venous plexus
  13. Sacral nerve V
  14. Coccygeal nerve
  15. Sympathetic trunk (a ganglion lies just above pointer)
  16. Sacral nerve IV
  17. Coccyx (body partially removed)
  18. Sacral nerve V
  19. Periosteum on anterior surface of coccyx
  20. Middle sacral artery
  21. Sympathetic trunks
  22. Coccygeus muscle (cut off)
  23. Ganglion of sympathetic trunk
  24. Upper pointer: Coccygeal glomus Lower pointer: Periosteum covering end piece of coccyx (fibers transversely banded):
  25. Coccyx (end piece)