What are the pelvic walls made of?

The pelvic walls are formed by a combination of bones, ligaments, and muscles, covered by fascia and parietal peritoneum. There are five defined walls: anterior, posterior, right and left lateral, and the inferior wall (pelvic floor).

What structures form the anterior pelvic wall?

The anterior pelvic wall is the shallowest wall, formed by the bodies of the pubic bones, superior and inferior pubic rami, pubic symphysis, and obturator membrane (posterior view).

What makes up the posterior pelvic wall?

The posterior pelvic wall is the largest and deepest wall, formed by the pelvic surfaces of the sacrum and coccyx, covered by piriformis muscles and their fascia. Important associated nerves include the sciatic, pudendal, and lumbosacral trunk (L4–S4).

What are the components of the lateral pelvic walls?

Each lateral pelvic wall is composed of the pelvic surface of the hip bone below the pelvic brim, obturator internus muscle with fascia, sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments, and obturator membrane. These structures form boundaries and foramina for neurovascular passage.

What is the pelvic floor and what does it consist of?

The pelvic floor is the inferior wall of the pelvis, formed by the pelvic diaphragm. It consists of the levator ani muscle group and the coccygeus muscle, which support pelvic viscera and help maintain continence.

What are the soft tissue layers lining the pelvic walls?

From deep to superficial, the soft tissue layers lining the pelvic walls are arranged as muscles (e.g., piriformis, obturator internus, levator ani), nerves (e.g., lumbosacral trunk, pudendal nerve), pelvic fascia, blood vessels (e.g., internal iliac and its branches), and parietal peritoneum.

Pelvic Walls – Bony and Muscular Anatomy