Fascia of the Obturator internus
Encyclopedia
The fascia of the Obturator internus (or Obturator fascia) covers the pelvic surface of, and is attached around the margin of the origin of, the muscle.
Above, it is loosely connected to the back part of the arcuate line
, and here it is continuous with the iliac fascia
.
In front of this, as it follows the line of origin of the Obturator internus, it gradually separates from the iliac fascia and the continuity between the two is retained only through the periosteum
.
It arches beneath the obturator vessels and nerve, completing the obturator canal
, and at the front of the pelvis is attached to the back of the superior ramus
of the pubis
.
Below, the obturator fascia is attached to the falciform process of the sacrotuberous ligament
and to the pubic arch
, where it becomes continuous with the superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
.
Behind, it is prolonged into the gluteal region.
The internal pudendal vessels and pudendal nerve cross the pelvic surface of the Obturator internus and are enclosed in a special canal—Alcock’s canal—formed by the obturator fascia.
Above, it is loosely connected to the back part of the arcuate line
Arcuate line
In anatomy, an arcuate line is any structure that is curvilinear.* Arcuate line * Arcuate line...
, and here it is continuous with the iliac fascia
Iliac fascia
The iliac fascia is a fascia in the pelvic area of the human body.It has the following connections:* laterally, to the whole length of the inner lip of the iliac crest....
.
In front of this, as it follows the line of origin of the Obturator internus, it gradually separates from the iliac fascia and the continuity between the two is retained only through the periosteum
Periosteum
Periosteum is a membrane that lines the outer surface of all bones, except at the joints of long bones. Endosteum lines the inner surface of all bones....
.
It arches beneath the obturator vessels and nerve, completing the obturator canal
Obturator canal
The obturator canal is a passageway formed in the obturator foramen by part of the obturator membrane. It connects the pelvis to the thigh.The obturator artery, obturator vein, and obturator nerve all travel through the canal.-Pathology:...
, and at the front of the pelvis is attached to the back of the superior ramus
Superior pubic ramus
The superior pubic ramus is a part of the pubic bone which forms a portion of the obturator foramen.It extends from the body to the median plane where it articulates with its fellow of the opposite side...
of the pubis
Pubis (bone)
In vertebrates, the pubic bone is the ventral and anterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis.It is covered by a layer of fat, which is covered by the mons pubis....
.
Below, the obturator fascia is attached to the falciform process of the sacrotuberous ligament
Sacrotuberous ligament
The sacrotuberous ligament is situated at the lower and back part of the pelvis. It is flat, and triangular in form; narrower in the middle than at the ends....
and to the pubic arch
Pubic arch
The eminences of the lower circumference of the true pelvis are separated by three notches: one in front, the pubic arch, formed by the convergence of the inferior rami of the ischium and pubis on either side. The angle at which they converge is known as the subpubic angle.-External links:* *...
, where it becomes continuous with the superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
Urogenital diaphragm
Older texts have asserted the existence of an urogenital diaphragm, also called the triangular ligament, which was described as a layer of the pelvis that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, lying between the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm and superior fascia of the...
.
Behind, it is prolonged into the gluteal region.
The internal pudendal vessels and pudendal nerve cross the pelvic surface of the Obturator internus and are enclosed in a special canal—Alcock’s canal—formed by the obturator fascia.