Final answer:
The statement is false; the ureters do not cross the bifurcation of the common iliac artery at the sacroiliac joint but instead enter the pelvis, sweeping laterally and then turning medially to enter the bladder without crossing the common iliac arteries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the ureter enters the pelvis by crossing the bifurcation of the common iliac artery anterior to the sacroiliac joint is false. The ureters indeed enter the pelvis, but they do not cross the bifurcation of the common iliac artery at this point. As the ureters enter the pelvis, they sweep laterally, hugging the pelvic walls, and as they approach the bladder, they turn medially and pierce the bladder wall obliquely to create a one-way valve that allows urine into the bladder but prevents reflux. The common iliac arteries themselves provide blood to the pelvic region and, at approximately the level of the lumbar-sacral articulation, they separate into external and internal iliac arteries. The internal iliac artery specifically sends branches to the urinary bladder and walls of the pelvis, amongst other areas.