Editing Male Pelvis (section)

== Soft tissues of the pelvis ==

* '''Perineal body'''
** Fibrous membrane consisting of muscle and collagenous and elastic fibers
** Pyramid-shaped structure at the central point of the perineum
** Defines the urogenital diaphragm; represents the point of fusion between the free posterior edge of the urogenital diaphragm and the posterior apex of the urogenital hiatus
** Forms the hub of pelvic support. '''Virtually every pelvic muscle (superficial and deep transverse perinei, bulbospongiosus, levator ani, rectourethralis, external anal sphincter, striated urethral sphincter) and fascia (perineal membrane, Denonvilliers, Colles, and endopelvic) inserts into the perineal body'''
* '''Tendinous arch or the arcus tendinous'''
** '''Thickened band of pelvic fascia that runs from the ischial spine to the pubic bone'''
** Originates from the pubic bone laterally and is connected to the pubovesical ligament medially and the tendinous arch of the levator ani.
** Present in males and females
* '''Ligaments'''
** '''Inguinal ligament'''
*** '''Superior attachment: anterior superior iliac spine'''
*** '''Inferior attachment: pubis'''
*** Courses obliquely in an inferomedial direction
** '''Sacrospinous ligament'''
*** Attaches from the ischial spine to the lateral border of the sacrum
*** Crosses in front of the sacrotuberous ligament, fusing with it medially
*** '''Covered by the coccygeus muscle'''
*** Above this lies the sciatic nerve and plexus, which is an important structure to avoid during vault suspensions.
** '''Sacrotuberous ligament'''
*** Attaches from the ilium and ischium to the sacrum It runs from the posterior iliac spine along the sacral border and attaches to the ischial tuberosity
*** '''The sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments separate the sciatic foramen into the greater and lesser sciatic foramina''' [Chapter 68 suggests only sacrospinous but Chapter 67 only mentions sacrotuberous and Wikipedia says both]
** '''Sacroiliac ligaments'''
*** The short and long dorsal sacroiliac ligaments are posterior and connect the sacrum to the ilium.
** '''Vesicopelvic ligament''' or fascia
*** Formed from fusion of the perivesical and endopelvic fascia.
**** The transversalis fascia is part of the outer stratum and is continuous with the endopelvic and lateral pelvic fascia
** '''Pubovesical/puboprostatic ligaments (pubourethral ligament)'''
*** '''Puboprostatic in males; pubovesical in females'''
*** '''Run from the pubic bone to the prostate/bladder neck'''
*** Important structure in retropubic suspension since they hold the bladder neck in place when it contracts, and they provide a hammocklike support to the mid-urethra.
* '''Muscles of the pelvic floor'''
** '''Pelvic sidewalls'''
*** '''Formed by (6):'''
***# '''Obturator internus'''
***# '''Iliacus'''
***# '''Psoas major'''
***# '''Psoas minor'''
***# '''Levator ani system'''
***# '''Coccygeus'''
** '''Pelvic floor'''
*** '''Formed by (2):'''
***# '''Pelvic diaphragm''', which extends from the pubis anteriorly to the coccyx posteriorly
***# '''Levator ani muscles''', which plays an important role in support of the urogenital viscera as well as their function.
***#* '''The levator ani complex consists of (3):'''
***#*# '''Pubococcygeus'''
***#*# '''Puborectalis'''
***#*# '''Iliococcygeus'''
***#** The name of each of its components is derived from their attachments.