Begin by identifying the ureters originating from the kidneys and descending along the posterior abdominal wall, crossing the pelvic brim and the external iliac vessels and emptying into the lateral borders of the urinary bladder.

Posterior to the urinary bladder locate the body of the uterus. Can you find the two uterine tubes projecting from either lateral side of the uterus, ending laterally as the fimbria of the uterine tubes? The ovaries should be very close to the fimbria, lying in a shallow depression bounded by the external iliac vein, the ureter and the uterine tube.

Remember, all of the reproductive organs in an elderly female will more than likely be greatly diminished in size from that of a pre-menopausal woman.

Can you now see the peritoneum draped over the top of the uterus and uterine tubes forming a double peritoneal fold, the broad ligament of the uterus?

Running anteriorly out of the broad ligament, find the round ligament of the uterus as it passes through the deep inguinal ring.

Identify rectum as the most posterior organ in the pelvic cavity. Trace its continuity from the sigmoid colon.

Now move to the superior and posterior end of the pelvic cavity and look for the abdominal aorta.

Follow it inferiorly until you find the aorta splitting into right and left common iliac arteries.

The common iliacs soon split into internal and external iliac arteries.

Also find the internal iliac vein and follow it to its junction with the external iliac vein where they form the common iliac vein. The common iliac soon joins its partner from the opposite side to form the inferior vena cava.

Note how the left common iliac vein lies directly posterior to the bifurcation of the aorta.