Page 10 - 2023 Elctronic Book (3) Normal Labor_Neat

of the skeleton have the main function of supporting our body weight and acting
as attachment points for our muscles. The focus in this study session will be on

the female pelvis, which supports the major load of the pregnant uterus, and the
fetal skull, which has to pass through the woman’s pelvis when she gives birth.

▪ There are certain key landmarks in the anatomy of the female pelvis and the fetal
skull that we will show you in this study session. Knowing these landmarks will

enable you to estimate the progress of labor, by identifying changes in their
relative positions as the fetus passes down the birth canal. You will learn how to
do this in the next Module in this curriculum, which is on Labor and Delivery

Care.

Learning Outcomes for Study Session

When you have studied this session, you should be able to:

1. Describe the female pelvis and identify the important features for obstetric care.

2. Describe the main features of the fetal skull, and their importance for labor and
delivery.

The female bony pelvis

The pelvis is a hard ring of bone (see Figure 1), which supports and protects the
pelvic organs and the contents of the abdominal cavity. The muscles of the legs, back

and abdomen are attached to the pelvis, and their strength and power keep the body
upright and enable it to bend and twist at the waist, and to walk and run.

9