Pelvic & Perineal Myology Flashcards
Components of the Lateral Pelvic Wall
- Obturator Internus Muscle
- Obturator Fascia
- Pudendal Canal
Lateral Pelvic Wall: Obturator Internus Muscle
- Found don the lateral pelvic walls
- At the posterior aspect of the os coxa, the muscle tendon forms (muscles runs towards the sacrum and coccyx)
- This tendon passes thru the lesser sciatic foramen and attaches to the greater trochanter of the femur
- Obturator canal is associated with the muscle’s superior origin, allowing neurovasculature to pass thru
Obturator Internus Muscle: Origin and Insertion
- Origin: pelvic surface of the ilium and ischium, and obturator membrane
- Insertion: Greater Trochanter of the Femur
Obturator Internus Muscle: Innervation
Nerve to Obturator Internus
Obturator Internus Muscle: Action
Rotates the thigh laterally, helps hold the femur head in the acetabulum
Obturator Fascia
- Covers the medial aspect of the obturator internus muscle and divides the obturator internus muscle into a superior pelvic portion and an inferior perineal portion
- Has a thickened central tendon that provides the attachment point for the muscles that create the pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor – called the tendinous arch of the levator ani; creates the pudendal canal inferiorly
- This fascia is continuous with the transversalis fascia from the abdomen
Obturator Fascia: Pudendal Canal (Alcock’s Canal)
- Space that runs inside the obturator fascia in its inferior (perineal) aspect within the ischioanal fossa
- Provides the passageway for the internal pudendal vessels and pudendal nerve
Posterior Pelvic Wall
Part of the pelvis is formed by the sacrum, coccyx, SI Joint, associated ligaments, and the piriformis
Piriformis Muscle: Origin and Insertion
- Origin: Pelvic surface of S2-S4 vertebrae, the superior margin of the greater sciatic notch, and sacrotuberous ligament
- Insertion: Greater Trochanter of the Femur
The Piriformis moves passes through the ___ ____ ____ and sits below the __ ___
- Greater Sciatic Foramen
- Sacral Plexus
Piriformis: Innervation
N to the Piriformis
Piriformis: Action
Laterally rotates and abducts the thigh, helps with holding the femur head in the acetabulum
Pelvic Floor (Pelvic Diaphram)
The bottom of the lesser pelvis is filled by a bowl or funnel-shaped pelvic diaphragm created by muscles and fasica
Muscles of the Pelvic Diaphragm
- Levator Ani (Puborectalis M, Pubococcygeus M, Iliococcygeus M)
- Coccygeus M
Levator Ani
- Group of three thin, sheet-like muscles that create the internal pelvic floor
- It is contracted to ensure support to the pelvic viscera but relaxes during urination and defecation
- Muscles run from the Obturator Fascia (tendinous arch of levator ani) and the pubis to the ischial spine, separating the obturator internus muscle into a pelvic and perineal portion
- Contains a gap anteriorly (Urogenital Hiatus) and a gap posteriorly (Rectal Hiatus)
Levator Ani: Urogenital Hiatus
- Anterior, near the pubic bones
- Allows the urethra and vagina room to pass through the pelvic diaphragm
Levator Ani: Rectal Hiatus
- Posterior
- Opening for the rectum
Levator Ani: Iliococcygeus Muscle
- The posterolateral part of the Levator Ani complex, closest to the Coccygeus muscle
- Runs from the posterior tendinous arch of the levator ani to the ischial spine
- Development of this muscle is variable and can appear more tendon-like than muscle in the body
Iliococcygeus Muscle: Origin and Insertion
- Origin: Posterior part of the tendinous arch of the Obturator Fascia and Ischial Spine
- Insertion: Coccyx and Anococcygeal Ligament (Anococcygeal Body)
Iliococcygeus Muscle: Innervation
- N to Levator Ani (S4)
- Inferior Rectal N
- Coccygeal Plexus Branches
Iliococcygeus Muscle: Action
Supports pelvic viscera and resists increase in intra-abdominal pressure
Levator Ani: Puborectalis Muscle
- Medial muscle in the levator ani group
- Forms a sling (puborectal sling) that encircles the anorectal junction (passes thru rectal hiatus)
- Thick, narrow, medial most part of levator ani
- Helps with fecal incontinence and relaxes during defecation
Puborectalis Muscle: Origin and Insertion
- Origin: Posterior Pubic Bone (body)
- Insertion: External Wall of the Rectum and Anal Canal
Puborectalis Muscle: Innervation
- N to the Levator Ani (S4)
- Inferior Rectal N
- Coccygeal Plexus Branches
Puborectalis Muscle: Action
- Maintains anorectal flexure
- Supports pelvic viscera
- Resists increases in intra-abdominal pressure
Levator Ani: Pubococcygeus M
- Thin, wide, intermediate part (main) of the Levator Ani
- Located between the Iliococcygeus and Puborectalis
- Comes together to form the anococcygeal body (anococcygeal ligament) that runs between the anus and the coccyx
- It has accessory muscle slips associated with it that are named based on where the muscle terminates
Accessory Muscles Slips of the Pubococcygeus M
- Pubovaginalis M
- Puboprostaticus (Levator Prostate) M
- Puboperinealis M
- Puboanalis M
Pubococcygeus Muscle: Origin and Insertion
- Origin: Posterior aspect of pubis (body), anterior most part of the tendinous arch of obturator fascia
- Insertion: Coccyx, Anococcygeal body, contralateral Pubococcygeus M
Pubococcygeus Muscle: Innervation
- N to Levator Ani (S4)
- Inferior Rectal N
- Coccygeal Plexus Branches
Pubococcygeus Muscle: Action
- Supports pelvic viscera
- Resists increases in intra-abdominal pressure
Pubococcygeus Muscle: Pubovaginalis
Small slips of pubococcygeus muscle near the vagina (Female only)
Pubococcygeus Muscle: Puboprostaticus (Levator Prostate)
Small slips of pubococcygeus muscle near the prostate (Male only)
Pubococcygeus Muscle: Puboperinealis
Small slips of pubococcygeus muscle towards the midline between the urethra and anus
Pubococcygeus Muscle: Puboanalis
Small slips of pubococcygeus muscle near the anus
Perineal Triangle
- These are the two divisions of the shallow compartment (perineum) between the thighs, below the inferior aspect of the pelvis
- Contains the genitalia and orifices for the pelvic organs to exit the body
- Divided into triangle-like areas by an imaginary line drawn at the ischial tuberosities (interischial line)
Urogenital Triangle
- Triangular area of the perineum that lies anterior to an imaginary line drawn between the ischial tuberosities (inter-ischial line)
- Located anterior to the anal triangle
- Separated from the anal triangle by the perineal body and the pelvic floor muscles by the perineal membrane
Components of the Urogenital Triangle
- Urethra
- Root of penis and scrotum (males)
- Vagina, labia, clitoris (females)
Perineal Membrane
- Component of Urogenital Triangle
- Tough fascia that runs between the pubic arches, separating the anterior perineum from the pelvic floor and closing part of the pelvic aperture
- Urethra and vagina perforate the membrane to reach the perineum (urogenital hiatus)
- Erectile tissues associated with the perineum attach to the membrane as well as the associated ischiopubic rami for support
Deep Perineal Space
- Located between the inferior fascia of the pelvic diaphragm and the perineal membrane
- Runs laterally towards the obturator’s inferior (perineal portion) fascia
- Within the area, one finds a portion of the urethra, external urethral sphincter muscle, deep transverse perineal muscle, and ischioanal fat; in males it also contains the bulbourethral gland and dorsal neurovasculature to the penis; in females it also contains the dorsal neurovasculature for the clitoris
Superficial Perineal Space
- Potential space between the perineal fascia and perineal membrane
- Lies between the ischiopubic rami
- Includes: superficial transverse perineal muscles, ischiocavernosus muscle, bulbospongiosus muscle, perineal neurovasculature (internal pudendal vessels, pudendal N); in males it also contains the root of the penis an spongy urethra; in females it also contains the clitoris, bulb of the vestibule and greater vestibular glands