Obturator foramen

Changed by Craig Hacking, 15 Mar 2017

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

The obturator foramen is the large, obliquely oriented, ovoid aperture located at the anterior aspect of both sides of the pelvis, bounded by parts of the ischium and pubis. It is covered by thin fibrous membrane, the obturator membrane, which is covered on the internal and external surfaces by the muscles obturator internus and obturator externus respectively. At it's superior margin, the membrane is devoid forming the obturator canal which allows the obturator nerve, artery and vein to exit the pelvis and enter the medial compartment of the thigh.

Boundaries

  • superior: superior pubic ramus and inferior margin of the acetabulum
  • anterior: pubic body
  • inferior: ischiopubic ramus (inferior pubic ramus)
  • posterior: ischiopubic ramus (inferior pubic ramus) and acetabulum

Variation

It is larger and more oval in males, where it is smaller and more triangular in females.

Clinical importance

Although uncommon, an obturator hernia can pass through the foramen and cause bowel obstruction.

  • -<p>The <strong>ob</strong><strong>turator foramen</strong> is the large, obliquely oriented, ovoid aperture located at the anterior aspect of both sides of the <a title="Pelvis" href="/articles/pelvis-1">pelvis</a>, bounded by parts of the <a title="Ischium" href="/articles/ischium">ischium</a> and <a title="Pubis" href="/articles/pubis">pubis</a>. It is covered by thin fibrous membrane, the obturator membrane, which is covered on the internal and external surfaces by the muscles <a title="Obturator internus" href="/articles/obturator-internus-muscle">obturator internus</a> and <a title="Obturator externus muscle" href="/articles/obturator-externus-muscle">obturator externus</a> respectively. At it's superior margin, the membrane is devoid forming the <a title="Obturator canal" href="/articles/obturator-canal">obturator canal</a> which allows the <a title="Obturator nerve" href="/articles/obturator-nerve">obturator nerve</a>, <a title="Obturator artery" href="/articles/obturator-artery">artery</a> and vein to exit the pelvis and enter the <a title="Medial compartment of the thigh" href="/articles/medial-compartment-of-the-thigh">medial compartment of the thigh</a>.</p><h4>Boundaries</h4><ul>
  • +<p>The <strong>ob</strong><strong>turator foramen</strong> is the large, obliquely oriented, ovoid aperture located at the anterior aspect of both sides of the <a href="/articles/pelvis-1">pelvis</a>, bounded by parts of the <a href="/articles/ischium">ischium</a> and <a href="/articles/pubis">pubis</a>. It is covered by thin fibrous membrane, the obturator membrane, which is covered on the internal and external surfaces by the muscles <a href="/articles/obturator-internus-muscle">obturator internus</a> and <a href="/articles/obturator-externus-muscle">obturator externus</a> respectively. At it's superior margin, the membrane is devoid forming the <a href="/articles/obturator-canal">obturator canal</a> which allows the <a href="/articles/obturator-nerve">obturator nerve</a>, <a href="/articles/obturator-artery">artery</a> and vein to exit the pelvis and enter the <a href="/articles/medial-compartment-of-the-thigh">medial compartment of the thigh</a>.</p><h4>Boundaries</h4><ul>
  • -<strong>superior</strong>: superior pubic ramus and inferior margin of the <a title="Acetabulum" href="/articles/acetabulum">acetabulum</a>
  • +<strong>superior</strong>: superior pubic ramus and inferior margin of the <a href="/articles/acetabulum">acetabulum</a>
  • -</ul><h4>Variation</h4><p>It is larger and more oval in males, where it is smaller and more triangular in females.</p><h4>Clinical importance</h4><p>Although uncommon, an <a title="Obturator hernia" href="/articles/obturator-hernia">obturator hernia</a> can pass through the foramen and cause bowel obstruction.</p>
  • +</ul><h4>Variation</h4><p>It is larger and more oval in males, where it is smaller and more triangular in females.</p><h4>Clinical importance</h4><p>Although uncommon, an <a href="/articles/obturator-hernia">obturator hernia</a> can pass through the foramen and cause bowel obstruction.</p>

References changed:

  • 1. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?vid=ISBN9780683061413">ISBN: 9780683061413</a><span class="ref_v4"></span>
  • 2. Mcminn. Last's Anatomy. <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?vid=ISBN9780729537520">ISBN: 9780729537520</a><span class="ref_v4"></span>

Sections changed:

  • Anatomy

Systems changed:

  • Musculoskeletal
Images Changes:

Image 2 ( create )

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