Pelvic floor muscles Flashcards
What are the functions of the pelvic floor?
- control of defeacation and micturition
- maintain intra-abdominal pressure during sneezing, coughing, laughing etc
- maintan continence
- facilitate childbirth
A main function of pelvic floor is support of pelvic organs. What are the 3 mechanisms of support?
- suspension
- attachment
- fusion
What is suspension?
“holding up the muscles” - maintains an anti-gravity position by providing strong vertical support
What structures allow suspension?
cardinal and uterosacral and round ligaments
What does the cardinal ligament do?
holds the cervix and upper vagina in place
What does the uterosacral ligament do?
holds the back of the verve and upper vagina laterally
What does the round ligament do?
maintains the anteverted position of the uterus
What is the attachment mechanism?
the support that comes from attachments on the pelvic organs
What is significant about the endopelivc fascia?
it stretch like a hammock and the urethra lies anterior and above it so when intra abdominal pressure increases., urethra is compressed - important for urinary continence
What is the fusion mechanism?
support that arises from fusion of different tissues e.g. urogenital diaphragm and perineal body
What are the deep muscles of the pelvic floor?
the levator ani muscles -they encircle the urethra, vagina and rectum
What are the muscles of elevator ani?
iliococcygeus
puborectali
pubococcygeus
What is the midpoint of these attachments?
perineal body (central point between the vagina and the rectum)
What are the superficial muscles?
bulbospongiosus
ischiocavernosus
superficial transverse perineal
Which muscles are most commonly involved in injury and what is the mechanism of injury?
the superficial muscles - perineal trauma - accidental, sexual or obstetric (during childbirth)
What is the urogenital diaphragm?
triangular sheet of dense fibrous tissue that spans half of the pelvic outlet and support the pelvic floor
What is the blood supply to the pelvic floor muscles?
pudendal arteries and drainage through pudendal veins
What is the lymph drainage of the pelvic floor muscles?
inguinal lymph nodes
What is the nerve supply to the pelvic floor muscles?
the pudendal nerve (S234)
What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
refers to a wide range of symptoms and conditions that can arise as a result of problems to do with the pelvic floor