title: Topographical relationships between the obturator nerve, artery, and vein in the lateral pelvic wall.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. cicloaum@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: U-Young
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8990-1213
authors.initials: UY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Koon Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Keun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D044466:Asian People; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009776:Obturator Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Lateral pelvic wall; Obturator artery; Obturator nerve; Obturator vein; Pelvic surgery