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Topographical relationships between the obturator nerve, artery, and vein in the lateral pelvic wall

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The aims of this study were to determine the topographical relationships between the obturator nerve (ON), artery (OA), and vein (OV) in the lateral pelvic wall.

Methods

One hundred and fifty hemipelvises of 84 Korean cadavers were dissected.

Results

The ON, OA, and OV ran in that order (from upper to lower) within the lateral pelvic wall in 46.7 % of specimens. In 32 % of cases, the three structures were separated at the posterior portion of the wall and then converged toward the obturator canal (OC). In 10 %, the OA and OV were in contact with each other and separate from the ON; in 2 %, the ON was contiguous with the OA and separate from the OV; in 2.7 %, all three structures were in contact with each another. Alternately, the order of ON, OA, and OV was altered in the lateral pelvic wall in 41.3 % of specimens. Finally, in 12 % specimens, either the OA or OV or both were absent from the lateral pelvic wall.

Conclusions

The possibility of the presence of either the OA or OV being between the ON and the external iliac vein, and the potential contact between the ON and either the OA or OV in the lateral pelvic wall, should be borne in mind during pelvic procedures.

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Abbreviations

ON:

Obturator nerve

OA:

Obturator artery

OV:

Obturator vein

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. In-Hyuk Chung and Mr. Seong-In John for their help in dissecting specimens and preparing figures.

Conflicts of interest

None

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

    Hyung-Sun Won, Jun-Ho Kim & U-Young Lee

  2. Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Koon Ho Rha & Dae Keun Kim

Authors
  1. Hyung-Sun Won
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  2. Jun-Ho Kim
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  3. U-Young Lee
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  5. Dae Keun Kim
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Correspondence to U-Young Lee.

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Won, HS., Kim, JH., Lee, UY. et al. Topographical relationships between the obturator nerve, artery, and vein in the lateral pelvic wall. Int Urogynecol J 27, 213–218 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-015-2806-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-015-2806-6

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