The Pelvic Floor Flashcards
The pelvic inlet is also known as…
…the superior pelvic aperture
The pelvic outlet is also known as…
…the inferior pelvic aperture
The anterior pelvic wall is formed by…
…the bodies and rami of the pubic bones and the pubic symphysis
The lateral pelvic wall is formed by…
…the hip bones and the obturator internus muscles
Origin and insertion of obturator internus
O: Proximal surface of the ilium and ischium; Obturator membrane
I: Greater trochanter of the femur
The posterior pelvic wall is formed by…
…the sacrum and coccyx
- adjacent parts of the ilia
- the sacroiliac joints
The posterior wall of the pelvis is covered by…
The piriformis
Origin of piriformis
- Pelvic surface of 2nd and 4th sacral segments
- Superior margin of the greater sciatic notch and sacrotuberous ligament
The pelvic floor is formed by…
…the funnel shaped pelvic diaphragm
The pelvic diaphragm is made up of which muscles?
The levator ani and coccygeus muscles and their fascia
The pelvic floor stretches between…
…the pubis anteriorly
- the coccyx posteriorly
- from one lateral pelvic wall to the other
The inferior border of the true pelvis is…
…the inferior border
The superior border of the true pelvis is…
The pelvic brim
What is the superior border of the perineum?
The pelvic floor
The levator ani muscle is composed of…
3 parts:
- Puborectalis muscle
- Pubococcygeus muscle
- Iliococcygeus muscle
The right and left levator ani lie…
…almost horizontally in the floor of the pelvis
The right and left levator ani are separated by…
…a narrow gap that transmits the urethra, vagina, and anal canal
Direction of pubococcygeus
from the body of the pubis toward the coccyx.
The main part of the levator ani is…
Pubococcygeus
Some fibres of pubococcygeus are inserted into…
… the prostate, urethra, and vagina.
The right and left puborectalis unite where to form what?
…behind the anorectal junction to form a muscular sling
The puborectalis may be regarded as a part of the sphincter ani externus. True or false?
True
The most posterior part of the levator ani is…
Iliococcygeus
Coccygeus is situated…
●Frequently tendinous as much as muscular
●Extends from the ischial spine to the lateral margin of the sacrum and coccyx.
… behind the levator ani
Coccygeus extends from…
…the ischial spine to the lateral margin of the sacrum and coccyx.
The pelvic floor muscles oppose gravity and increased abdominal pressures. True or false?
True
Functions of the pelvic floor muscles
- Support for pelvic visceral organs
- Maintenance of continence through sphincter action on rectum and vagina
- Increasing intra-abdominal pressure during defecation, micturition and parturition
Effects of pelvic floor dysfunction
Cystocele (bladder) Rectocele Uterine prolapse Enterocele (small intestine) Vault prolapse
Pelvic floor weakness is associated with damage to…
pubococcygeus muscle
Large diameter slow twitch type I fibers predominantly and fast twitch type II fibers are present in…
Pubococcygeus muscle
Uterine prolapse is caused by…
Laxity of uterosacral ligaments
