The muscles of the pelvis form its floor, providing support to the pelvic organs when there is an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Their role in urinary and fecal continence is equally crucial. There are several muscles which are a part of the pelvic floor, including puborectalis, pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus and coccygeus. In this section, we will learn more about the pelvic floor and the muscles involved.
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The pelvic floor is a complex system that allows us to function with ease in everyday life. It is composed of several layers of muscles and organs, which work together to provide support and stability to the pelvic region.
The first layer of the pelvic floor consists of the puborectalis, pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus and coccygeus muscles. The puborectalis is a sheet-like muscle that wraps around the rectum and anal canal, and is responsible for closing the bottom of the rectum to prevent leakage of stool. The pubococcygeus muscle is a fan-shaped muscle that extends from the pubic bone to the coccyx and helps to support the pelvic organs. The iliococcygeus muscle is a thin sheet-like muscle that stretches from the inner surface of the pelvic bones to the coccyx, and helps to support the pelvic organs. Finally, the coccygeus muscle is a triangular-shaped muscle located at the base of the spine which helps to stabilize the sacroiliac joint.
The second layer of the pelvic floor consists of the levator ani muscles. These muscles help to support the pelvic organs and maintain continence. The levator ani muscles are made up of the iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis, and coccygeus muscles. The iliococcygeus muscle is located on the inner surface of the pelvic bones and attaches to the coccyx. The pubococcygeus and puborectalis muscles are sheet-like muscles that wrap around the rectum and anal canal, helping to close the bottom of the rectum. The coccygeus muscle is a triangular-shaped muscle that stabilizes the sacroiliac joint. Together, these muscles contract and relax to support the pelvic organs and maintain continence.
The third layer of the pelvic floor consists of the deep transverse perineal muscles. These muscles are located in the perineum and help to support the pelvic organs. The deep transverse perineal muscles include the sphincter urethrae, which helps to close the bottom of the urethra to maintain urine continence; the external anal sphincter, which closes the bottom of the anal canal to maintain fecal continence; and the levator prostatae, which helps to support the prostate gland.
The fourth layer of the pelvic floor consists of the perineal body. The perineal body is a thick fibrous tissue located in the perineum and helps to support the pelvic organs. It is made up of connective tissue, muscle fibers, and several small muscles, including the bulbospongiosus, ischiocavernosus, and transverse perinei.
The pelvic floor is essential for healthy functioning of the body. It provides support and stability to the pelvic organs, helps to maintain continence, and helps to support the pelvic organs during increased intra-abdominal pressure. Additionally, it is imperative for basic functionality and security of the website, as it is composed of several cookies that do not store any personal information.
