The pelvic inlet or superior aperture of the
pelvis
The pelvis (: pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of an Anatomy, anatomical Trunk (anatomy), trunk, between the human abdomen, abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also c ...
is a planar surface which defines the boundary between the
pelvic cavity and the
abdominal cavity (or, according to some authors, between two parts of the pelvic cavity, called lesser pelvis and greater pelvis). It is a major target of measurements of
pelvimetry
Pelvimetry is the measurement of the female human pelvis, pelvis. It can theoretically identify cephalo-pelvic disproportion, which is when the capacity of the pelvis is inadequate to allow the fetus to negotiate the birth canal. However, clinical ...
.
Its position and orientation relative to the skeleton of the pelvis is anatomically defined by its edge, the
pelvic brim
The pelvic brim is the edge of the pelvic inlet. It is an approximately butterfly-shaped line passing through the prominence of the sacrum, the arcuate and pectineal lines, and the upper margin of the pubic symphysis.
Structure
The pelvic ...
. The pelvic brim is an approximately apple-shaped line passing through the prominence of the
sacrum, the
arcuate and
pectineal lines, and the upper margin of the
pubic symphysis.
Occasionally, the terms pelvic inlet and pelvic brim are used interchangeably.
Boundaries
The edge of the pelvic inlet (pelvic brim) is formed as follows:
Diameters
The diameters or conjugates of the pelvis are measured at the pelvic inlet and outlet and as oblique diameters.
Two diameters may be measured from the outside of the body using a
pelvimeter
Additional images
Skeletal pelvis-pubis.svg, Pelvis
Konjugata vera.jpg, Conjugata vera as measured on sagittal MRI
File:Low-dose CT of transverse diameter of pelvic inlet.jpg, Low-dose CT scan
A computed tomography scan (CT scan), formerly called computed axial tomography scan (CAT scan), is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or ...
of the transverse diameter of the pelvic inlet, as part of pelvimetry
Pelvimetry is the measurement of the female human pelvis, pelvis. It can theoretically identify cephalo-pelvic disproportion, which is when the capacity of the pelvis is inadequate to allow the fetus to negotiate the birth canal. However, clinical ...
File:Low-dose CT of obstetric conjugate.jpg, Obstetric conjugate, as a measure of the pelvic inlet in the sagittal plane
See also
*
Pelvic outlet
External links
* (, )
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Pelvis