10. Female pelvis CT#1, axial plane

The plane of imaging is about the level of the third sacral segment.

There is wide normal variation in the relative positions of the pelvic organs. The ovaries are usually lateral to the uterus just inferior to the bifurcation of the iliac vessels, though they may not lie in the same horizontal plane (as is the case in this patient). The fallopian (uterine) tubes are not routinely visualized on CT.

This patient received both oral and intravenous contrast prior to scanning to opacify the lumens of both the GI and urinary tracts. Note the straight line interface between two densities in the anterior urinary bladder; this is a fluid-fluid level between the dense contrast and the less dense urine floating on top of it. (The patient is scanned supine, so the denser contrast settles with gravity to the posterior apsect of the bladder).