title: Comparative Anatomy of the Ovine and Female Pelvis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pelvic organ prolapse affects half of vaginally parous women. Several animal models are used to study its pathophysiology and treatment. Sheep are interesting because they develop spontaneously prolapse with similar risk factors as women and can be used for vaginal surgery. This study describes ovine pelvis anatomy and compares it to women's pelvis to provide anatomical tools for translational researchers.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI, pelvic dissections, and histology were used for detailed macro- and microscopic analysis of relevant anatomical structures in 6 nulliparous ewes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although sheep are quadrupeds, the gross and microscopic anatomies are similar to the female pelvis. Principal differences are the shape and its orientation, the absence of the sacrospinous ligament and the internal obturator. The levator ani (except for the puborectalis) and the coccygeus muscle are present, yet the latter is more developed - coinciding with the tail. The dimensions and morphology of the ovine vagina is comparable. The retropubic and the rectovaginal space are accessible transvaginally. There is a wide expression of estrogen receptors with low or absent immunoreactivity in the urethral epithelium, bladder, anus and internal anal sphincter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ovine pelvic floor has many anatomical and ultrastructural similarities to the female pelvic floor.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Urbankova
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vdoviakova
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rynkevic
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sindhwani
authors.forename: Dries
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deprest
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feola
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herijgers
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krofta
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deprest
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012756:Sheep; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Animal model; Levator ani muscle; Pelvic organ prolapse; Sheep; Vagina