Tomographical anatomy of the pelvis, visceral pelvic connective tissue, and its compartments.

The sectional anatomy of the pelvic connective tissue was studied in plastinated sections of fetal and adult pelves, by computed tomography and by magnetic resonance imaging. The comparative study of the different specimens shows that the pelvic connective tissue consists of three compartments: a presacral compartment, a perirectal compartment, and a paravisceral compartment. The content and the borders of the compartments are described. Furthermore the pelvic fasciae and the pelvic ligaments are studied within the different specimens. A thin pelvic visceral fascia can only be found around the perirectal compartment. In tomographical anatomy the so called supportive ligaments of the uterus are only composed of the round ligaments and the sacrouterine ligaments.