pelvic floor muscles


pelvic floor muscles

The muscles that span the pelvic floor and support pelvic organs, consisting of fibres of the coccygeus and the levator ani muscles, the latter of which is composed of three fascicles:
(1) Pubococcygeus—the main part of the levator, which runs from the body of the pubis to the coccyx, with some fibres reaching the prostate, urethra, and vagina. The pubococcygeus may be damaged during childbirth;
(2) Puborectalis has right and left fascicles which unite behind the anorectal junction, forming a muscle sling that is part of the external anal sphincter;
(3) Iliococcygeus is the posteriormost part of the pelvic floor and is poorly developed.