Superior view of the female pelvis: Organs and vessels (English)

The urinary bladder (opened and retracted) is situated posterior the anterior pelvic wall. Immediately posterior to it is the uterus (body removed, with only the cervix remaining). Finally, in the posterior part of the pelvic cavity is the rectum. This superior view also allows the appreciation of the distribution of the vessels in the pelvic cavity. The arteries of this area stem mainly from the internal and external iliac arteries, which are shown bifurcating from the common iliac artery. The internal iliac artery supplies the pelvic walls and organs, as well as the gluteal and medial thigh regions of the lower limb. The external iliac artery provides arterial supply to the lower abdominal wall (via the inferior epigastric and deep circumflex iliac arteries); it passes beneath the inguinal ligament, where it becomes the femoral artery (main artery of the lower limb).