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Dissection of male pelvis from a lateral approach

Nerve supply to levator ani and coccygeus muscles, medial view

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Image #172-5
Diagram Image
Legend Image
Dissection of male pelvis from a lateral approach
Nerve supply to levator ani and coccygeus muscles, medial view
The prostate has been removed. The superior fascia of the pelvic diaphragm has been dissected to expose the branches from the third and fourth sacral nerves that supply the muscles of the right half of the diaphragm. Note that one nerve (25) passes into the coccygeus muscle and emerges inferiorly on the medial side of the levator ani.
  1. Left pointer: Lateral umbilical ligament (cut off) Right pointer: Superior vesical artery (cut off)
  2. Psoas major muscle
  3. Femoral nerve
  4. Iliacus muscle
  5. Upper pointer: Obturator artery Lower pointer: Obturator nerve
  6. External iliac artery and vein
  7. Lacunar ligament
  8. Superior pubic ramus
  9. Obturator fascia (obturator internus visible deep to fascia)
  10. Pubic symphysis
  11. Levator ani muscle (puborectalis muscle, covered by fascia)
  12. Tendinous arch of pelvic fascia
  13. Internal iliac artery
  14. Lumbosacral trunk
  15. Left pointer: Superior gluteal artery Right pointer: Lateral sacral artery
  16. Sacral nerve I
  17. Left pointer: Internal pudendal artery Right pointer: Inferior gluteal artery
  18. Sympathetic trunk
  19. Sacral nerve II
  20. Sacrum (cut away near midline)
  21. Sacral nerve III
  22. Piriform muscle
  23. Sacrum (dorsal surface)
  24. Upper pointer: Pudendal nerve Lower pointer: Sciatic nerve
  25. Nerve to Levator ani muscle and coccygeus muscle (this branch penetrates muscle, reappearing on the inner surface of the muscle nearly opposite the anal canal)
  26. Nerve to Levator ani muscle
  27. Coccyx
  28. Coccygeus muscle
  29. Location of ischial spine
  30. Anococcygeal ligament
  31. Levator ani muscle (pointer on iliococcygeus muscle)
  32. Levator ani muscle (pointer on pubococcygeus muscle)
  33. Tendinous arch of levator ani muscle (not clearly defined in this specimen)
  34. Anal canal
  35. Urogenital diaphragm
  36. Urethra