Pelvic outlet
Part of the pelvis
title: "Pelvic outlet" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["pelvis"] description: "Part of the pelvis" topic_path: "general/pelvis" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelvic_outlet" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Part of the pelvis ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox bone"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Pelvic outlet |
| Latin | apertura pelvis inferior |
| Image | Gray239.png |
| Caption | Diameters of inferior aperture of lesser pelvis (female) |
| Image2 | 1116 Muscle of the Female Perineum.png |
| Caption2 | Muscles of the female perineum |
| :: |
| Name = Pelvic outlet | Latin = apertura pelvis inferior | Image = Gray239.png | Caption = Diameters of inferior aperture of lesser pelvis (female) | Image2 = 1116 Muscle of the Female Perineum.png | Caption2 = Muscles of the female perineum The lower circumference of the lesser pelvis is very irregular; the space enclosed by it is named the inferior aperture or pelvic outlet. It is an important component of pelvimetry.
Boundaries
It has the following boundaries:
- anteriorly: the pubic arch
- laterally: the ischial tuberosities
- posterolaterally: the inferior margin of the sacrotuberous ligament
- posteriorly: the anterior border of the middle of the coccyx.
Notches
These eminences 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 other notches, one on either side, are formed by the sacrum and coccyx behind, the ischium in front, and the ilium above; they are called the sciatic notches; in the natural state they are converted into foramina by the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments.
In situ
When the ligaments are in situ, the inferior aperture of the pelvis is lozenge-shaped, bounded as follows:
- in front, by the pubic arcuate ligament and the inferior rami of the pubes and ischia
- laterally, by the ischial tuberosities
- behind, by the sacrotuberous ligaments and the tip of the coccyx.
Additional images
File:Gray319.png|Articulations of pelvis. Anterior view. File:Gray320.png|Articulations of pelvis. Posterior view. File:Low-dose CT of sagittal pelvic outlet diameter.jpg|Low-dose CT scan of sagittal pelvic outlet diameter as part of pelvimetry File:Low-dose CT scan of intertuberous diameter.jpg|Intertuberous diameter, as a measure of the transverse measure of the pelvic outlet
References
References
- Sara Paterson-Brown, Phillip Bennett, Catherine Williamson. (2010). "Basic Science in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Fourth Edition) - Obstetric pelvic definitions and dimensions". Elsevier Ltd.
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