Systematic Anatomical Description of the Female Pelvic Retroperitoneum in Cadavers

NCT07522931 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UB-RETROPERITONEO-2026
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This observational descriptive cadaveric study aims to describe the main anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum using standardized anatomical dissection. Adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program will undergo pelvic retroperitoneal dissection. Ten predefined anatomical relationships involving the ureter, pelvic vessels and nerves will be evaluated using a standardized anatomical checklist. Anatomical variability will be described for each item. Standardized photographs will also be obtained to develop an anatomical atlas for educational purposes.

Conditions

Cadaveric Study; Surgical Anatomy; Pelvic Anatomy; Retroperitoneum

Keywords

Pelvic anatomy; retroperitoneum; female pelvis; Dissection; cadaver; cadaveric model; surgical anatomy; Gynecologic surgery; Morphometric analysis; Anatomical variability; Nerve-sparing surgery; Pelvic vessels; Ureter anatomy; Hypogastric plexus; Pelvic lymphatic anatomy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Frequency of anatomical variation

  Percentage of anatomical variation for each of the ten predefined anatomical relationships evaluated using a standardized anatomical checklist.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Development of an anatomical atlas

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Cadaveric Specimens

Adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program. Specimens will undergo standardized pelvic retroperitoneal dissection, completion of a predefined 10-item anatomical checklist, and photographic documentation.

Other: Anatomical Dissection

Interventions

Anatomical Dissection OTHER

Standardized pelvic retroperitoneal dissection with completion of a 10-item anatomical checklist, observations and photographic documentation.

Cadaveric Specimens

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult female cadavers from the institutional body donation program.

You may qualify if:

• Female cadavers from an institutional body donation program
• Age ≥ 18 years at time of death
• Adequate preservation of pelvic and abdominal retroperitoneal structures
• Anatomical integrity allowing identification of the pelvic ureter, iliac vessels and their main branches, obturator nerve, and other structures included in the anatomical checklist.
• Availability of both hemipelves for comparative analysis
• Authorization for research use according to institutional body donation regulations

You may not qualify if:

• Male cadavers
• Prior major pelvic or abdominal surgery significantly altering retroperitoneal anatomy (e.g., hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy, vascular surgery)
• History of pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy
• Advanced pelvic or abdominal malignancy with retroperitoneal involvement
• Severe trauma affecting pelvic or abdominal anatomy
• Poor preservation or significant tissue degradation
• Absence of one or both hemipelves
• Advanced pregnancy at time of death

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge: lead
• University of Barcelona: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Universitat de Barcelona - Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology

Barcelona, Barcelona, 08007, Spain

RECRUITING

Universitat de Barcelona - Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology

Barcelona, 08028, Spain

NOT YET RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• Cibula D, Abu-Rustum NR. Pelvic lymphadenectomy in cervical cancer--surgical anatomy and proposal for a new classification system. Gynecol Oncol. 2010 Jan;116(1):33-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2009.09.003. Epub 2009 Oct 17.

  PMID: 19837449 BACKGROUND

• Sanna B, Henry BM, Vikse J, Skinningsrud B, Pekala JR, Walocha JA, Cirocchi R, Tomaszewski KA. The prevalence and morphology of the corona mortis (Crown of death): A meta-analysis with implications in abdominal wall and pelvic surgery. Injury. 2018 Feb;49(2):302-308. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.12.007. Epub 2017 Dec 9.

  PMID: 29241998 BACKGROUND

• Sienkiewicz-Zawilinska J, Zawilinski J, Kaythampilla LN, Jankiel M, Urbaniak J, Bereza T, Kowalski W, Loukas M, Walocha J. Autonomic nervous system of the pelvis - general overview. Folia Med Cracov. 2018;58(2):21-44. doi: 10.24425/fmc.2018.124656.

  PMID: 30467432 BACKGROUND

• Ripperda CM, Jackson LA, Phelan JN, Carrick KS, Corton MM. Anatomic relationships of the pelvic autonomic nervous system in female cadavers: clinical applications to pelvic surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Apr;216(4):388.e1-388.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.12.002. Epub 2016 Dec 9.

  PMID: 27956200 BACKGROUND

• Kostov S, Slavchev S, Dzhenkov D, Mitev D, Yordanov A. Avascular Spaces of the Female Pelvis-Clinical Applications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. J Clin Med. 2020 May 13;9(5):1460. doi: 10.3390/jcm9051460.

  PMID: 32414119 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• University of Barcelona WebPage

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cadaver

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Death; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Jorge García Fernández, Gynecologist

  Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jorge Garcia Fernandez Principal Investigator, Gynecologist

CONTACT

+34622595644; jorgarciafernan@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Gynaecologyst

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2026
• First Posted: April 13, 2026
• Study Start: April 14, 2026
• Primary Completion: September 28, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Last Updated: July 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (2)