To review and simplify the complex pelvic anatomy and its principal anatomic landmarks. To describe normal anatomy and its correlation with multidetector computer tomography images (MDCT) using CT code color images. To demonstrate how understanding the relevant pelvic anatomical structures allows the diagnosis of different pathological processes.

MDCT is frequently used in the evaluation of pelvic pathology. Normal anatomic landmarks are often distorted. The relation between different pelvic structures and the altered anatomical points, can be used to determine the nature of a pathologic process. Detailed anatomical knowledge of the pelvis allows more accurate evaluation of pathology to enable the radiologist to narrow the differential diagnoses. This precision helps the clinician to define therapeutic options.

PELVIC BONE STRUCTURE The bony pelvis consists of innominate bones, each with three parts (ilium, isquium and pubis), sacrum and coccyx. It protects the pelvic viscera, provides attachment for the muscles of the trunk and lower limb, and enables stable transfer of the body weight from the spine to the femora (Figure 1). Its divided into false (major) and true (minior) pelvis, by the ileopectineal line: the smaller inferior part is the true pelvis and the larger superior part is the false pelvis. The false...

Accurate knowledge of pelvic anatomy helps distinguish the precise location of the affected structures, and together with the clinical history, helps establish a differential diagnosis, which can sometimes be crucial in patient management and secondarily in its evolution.

Lina Marcela Cruz Hernandez Radiology Resident Department of Medical Imaging Virgen de la Salud Hospital Toledo - Spain [email protected] Carmen Cereceda Nieves Consultant Radiologist Department of Medical Imaging Virgen de la Salud Hospital Toledo - Spain [email protected]

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