For a study, researchers sought to determine the prevalence and morphometric characteristics of pubic ligaments, the interpubic disc, and its cavity utilizing clinical imaging techniques.
The morphology of the pubic symphysis was studied in 652 individuals (348 women and 304 males), with 449 CT scans and 203 MR images available. On average, men were 48 years old, and women were 39. The dimensions of the interpubic disc, the visibility and breadth of the reinforcing ligaments, and the visibility, size, and placement of the symphysial cavity were also investigated criteria. The findings were compared to MR images taken from 20 healthy participants and 21 dissected anatomic specimens.
Women’s craniocaudal, ventrodorsal, and mediolateral pubic disc diameters ranged from 36 to 37.7, 14.8 to 15.2, and 2.2 to 4.2 mm, whereas men’s diameters ranged from 42 to 42.3, 18.6 to 19, and 2.4 to 4.5 mm. The mediolateral diameter was shorter, and the craniocaudal and ventrodorsal diameters were bigger as people became older. The superior pubic ligament was visible in 93.1% of men (1.44 mm thick) and in 100% of women (1.7 mm); the inferior pubic ligament was visible in 89.7% of men (1.74 mm) and 88.7% of women (1.95 mm); the anterior pubic ligament was visible in 96.6% of men (1.5 mm) and 82% of women (1.34 mm), and the posterior pubic ligament was visible in 65.5% of men (1.18 mm) and 63.7% of women (0.83 mm). A symphysial hollow was discovered in 24% of males and 22.9 % of women, with craniocaudal, ventrodorsal, and mediolateral dimensions of 13, 10.7, and 3.2 mm in men and 9.5, 10.7, and 3 mm in women.
The morphologic characteristics reported here serve as an anatomic reference for diagnosing pathologic disorders of the pubic symphysis. Therefore, the anatomic features symphysial cavity (cavitas symphysialis), retropubic eminence (eminentia retropubica), anterior pubic ligament (ligamentum pubicum anterius), and posterior pubic ligament (ligamentum pubicum posterior) should be introduced to the standard anatomic language (ligamentum pubicum posterius).
Source: journals.lww.com/jaaos/Abstract/2022/07010/A_Morphologic_Analysis_of_the_Pubic_Symphysis.14.aspx
