VH Dissector: Pelvic Nerves and Arteries

Begin with the completed female pelvis 

Add the sciatic and lumbar nerves. Be sure to rotate the cadaver to see the path of the sciatic nerve.

Add the lumbosacral trunk.

Add the sacral nerves.

Note that the coccygeal plexus is too small to be seen in our cadaver.

Add the obturator nerve. Be sure to rotate and locate the obturator nerve as it passes through the obturator foramen and canal as it proceeds towards the medial thigh.

Add the femoral nerve.  Recall that it passes under the inguinal ligament to the anterior thigh.  

Add the pudendal nerve and trace its path from the sacrum to the pelvic diaphragm. You will have to rotate the pelvis in order to see its origin and where it ends in the perineum. (HINT: If you have trouble finding the pudendal nerve, use the Anatomy Icon and find the pudendal nerve in the index. Turn the "Sun" off and on as you watch the pelvis.)

Now we will add the vasculature of the pelvis.

Add the Abdominal Aorta

Add the inferior vena cava.

Add the right and left common iliac artery.

Add the right and left external iliac artery.

Add the femoral artery. Recall it continues from the external iliac after it passes under the inguinal ligament.

Add the right and left internal iliac artery.

The following are branches of the internal iliac artery:

The superior gluteal artery. Rotate to see the gluteal view of this artery.

The iliolumbar artery.

The lateral sacral artery.

The obturator artery.

The inferior gluteal artery.

The internal pudendal arteries.

Note that the umbilical artery, superior vesical artery and middle rectal arteries can not be seen in this cadaver.

The veins generally follow the pathway of the arteries, so we will not add them here.