The obturator fascia, or fascia of the

internal obturator muscle The internal obturator muscle or obturator internus muscle originates on the medial surface of the obturator membrane, the ischium near the membrane, and the rim of the pubis. It exits the pelvic cavity through the lesser sciatic foramen. The ...

, covers the pelvic surface of that muscle and is attached around the margin of its origin. Above, it is loosely connected to the back part of the arcuate line, and here it is continuous with the

iliac fascia The iliac fascia, or Abernethy's fascia, is a fascia in the region of the ilium of the pelvis. It has the following connections: * ''laterally'', to the whole length of the inner lip of the iliac crest. * ''medially'', to the linea terminalis of ...

. In front of this, as it follows the line of origin of the internal obturator, it gradually separates from the iliac fascia and the continuity between the two is retained only through the

periosteum The periosteum is a membrane that covers the outer surface of all bones, except at the articular surfaces (i.e. the parts within a joint space) of long bones. Endosteum lines the inner surface of the medullary cavity of all long bones. Structu ...

. 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 The sacrotuberous ligament (great or posterior sacrosciatic 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. Structure It runs from the sacrum (the lowe ...

and to the pubic arch, where it becomes continuous with the superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm. Behind, it is prolonged into the

gluteal The gluteal muscles, often called glutes are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region commonly known as the buttocks: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The three muscles originate from the ilium and sacr ...

region. The internal pudendal vessels and

pudendal nerve The pudendal nerve is the main nerve of the perineum. It carries sensation from the external genitalia of both sexes and the skin around the anus and perineum, as well as the motor supply to various pelvic muscles, including the male or fem ...

cross the pelvic surface of the internal obturator and are enclosed in a special canal— Alcock’s canal—formed by the obturator fascia. The iliococcygeus portion of the

levator ani The levator ani is a broad, thin muscle group, situated on either side of the pelvis. It is formed from three muscle components: the pubococcygeus, the iliococcygeus, and the puborectalis. It is attached to the inner surface of each side of the ...

attaches to the lateral walls of the pelvis via the obturator fascia through the tendinous arch of the obturator fascia.

References

External links

* * * Pelvis Fascia {{anatomy-stub