Graduate Student UT Health San Antonio Adkins, Texas, United States
Abstract Body : Abstract:
The pubic symphysis is a secondary cartilaginous joint that unites the left and right os coxa. Functionally, the pubic symphysis resists tension, shearing, and compressive forces. In addition, it aids the pelvis in absorbing shock during lower limb movement. Most importantly, in pregnant individuals, the ligaments of the pubic symphysis loosen in response to certain hormones, which allow the pelvis to widen in preparation for parturition. Although the pubic symphysis is functionally vital, little is understood about its blood supply. Current research indicates significant variations amongst the vessels supplying specific regions of the pubic symphysis. Due to the lack of clarity and limitations in the current literature, there is still much to be understood regarding the arterial supply of the pubic symphysis. Additionally, the reported dimensions of the pubic symphysis differ in the literature and are not often examined in cadavers. Thus, this cadaveric study is designed to examine the dimensions and arterial supply to the pubic symphysis and determine relationships between sex, age, and side of the body (left/right). The pubic symphysis was dissected bilaterally in 11 donors. All arteries near and surrounding the pubic symphysis were traced from their origin to the specific quadrant of the pubic symphysis that it supplied. After recording the rich arterial supply, all muscles and ligaments attached to the pubic symphysis were removed and the dimensions of the joint were reported. Preliminary data (n=11) describe the obturator artery as the most common arterial supply for the posterior superior (77% of sides) and posterior inferior (86%) regions of the pubic symphysis in both females and males. Most often, the anterior superior region of the pubic symphysis was supplied by the deep external pudendal artery (40%) with the obturator artery, distal to the obturator canal in the superior thigh, acting as the second most frequent pattern observed (31%). The arterial supply to the anterior inferior region of the pubic symphysis was commonly absent in both males and females (50%). After removing the soft tissue overlying the pubic symphysis, the height (average= 48.4 ± 5.4 mm), anterior width (8.3 ± 2.8 mm), posterior width (8.6 ± 1.6 mm), and depth (24.4 ± 3.1 mm) of the pubic symphysis were measured. The current research study maintains educational significance as it is the first cadaveric study to examine the arterial supply and dimensions of the pubic symphysis in detail.
