SURGICAL LANDMARKS OF THE URETER IN THE CADAVERIC FEMALE PELVIS

Our purpose was to delineate the course of the ureter in the female pe lvis in relationship to several important surgical landmarks. Ten fema le cadavers with undissected pelves were used. The ureter was identifi ed al the pelvic brim and traced inferiorly to the bladder. Sets of me asurements (+/- 0.1 cm) that help define the location of the ureter we re obtained al the three landmarks; the ischial spine. the obturator c anal and the insertion of the arcus tendineus on the pubic bone. The m ean distances from the ureter to the pelvic floor were ischial spine. 3.2 +/- 0.1 cml obturator canal, 3.2 +/- 0.1 cm and the insertion of t he arcus tendineus on the pubic bone, 1.6 +/- 0.1 cm, The mean distanc es from the arcus tendineus to the pelvic floor were ischial spine, 1. 9 +/- 0.1 cm; obturator canal, 2.8 +/- 0.1 cml and the insertion of th e arcus tendineus on the pubic bone, 3.2 +/- 0.1 cm. This study define s the relationship of the ureter to the pelvic floor through measureme nts taken al three landmarks. The data should be useful la pelvic surg eons and are important For the development of future surgical techniqu es. Clin. Anal. 10:324-327, 1997. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.