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PELVIS
PELVIS
Basin-shaped
Lower end (spine)
protects the lower
abdominal and
internal reproductive
organs of the body
Posterior wall
sacrum
side and anterior
pelvic walls are
composed of three
fused bones: the
ilium, the ischium
and the pubis
PUBIC SYMPHYSIS
secondary cartilaginous joint
COCCYX
terminal end of the
spine
inferior to the
sacrum
LINEA TERMINALIS
Pelvic Brim, Ileopectineal
Imaginary line that divides the upper (false) pelvis
Provides support for:
Internal organs
Upper part of the body
TRUE PELVIS
Three subdivisions:
(1) the inlet (upper pelvic opening)
(2) the midpelvis (pelvic cavity)
(3) the outlet (lower pelvic opening).
INLET
Boundaries of the inlet:
symphysis pubis anteriorly
sacral promontory posteriorly
linea terminalis on the sides
Diagonal conjugate
- 11.5 cm or greater
- slightly larger than both the obstetric and true conjugates
Obstetric conjugate
- narrowest
- but cannot be measured directly
- estimated by first measuring the diagonal conjugate and then
subtracting 1.5 to 2 cm
True conjugate
- 10 cm
** If the inlet is small the fetal head may not be able to enter it because the inlet
cannot enlarge much to accommodate the fetus due to fixed bone
measurements.
MIDPELVIS
Pelvic Cavity
narrowest part of the pelvis
where fetus must pass during birth
Midpelvic diameters
measured at the level of the ischial spines
OUTLET
Three important diameters of the outlet
(1) the anteroposterior
(2) the transvere (bi-ischial or intertuberous)
(3) the posterior sagittal
* *Angle of the pubic arch also is an important pelvic
outlet measure.
Anteroposterior Diameter
9.5 to 11.5 cm
Varying with the curve between the sacrococcygeal joint
Transverse Diameter
Bi-ischial or intertuberous diameter
Distance between the ischial tuberosities (sit bones)
averages 11 cm
pass under it
should be at least 90 degrees
narrow pubic arch displaces the fetus posteriorly toward the
coccyx as it tries to pass under the arch.