The pelvic floor

Question 1

what resides within the pelvic cavity?

Answer 1

The pelvic viscera, (bladder, rectum, pelvic genital organs and terminal part of the urethra)

Question 2

what is the pelvic cavity also known as?

Answer 2

true pelvis

Question 3

where is the pelvic cavity located within?

Answer 3

within the lesser part of the pelvis, beneath the pelvic brim

Question 4

which muscles help make up the lateral walls of the pelvic cavity?

Answer 4

the obterator internus and the pirformis muscle

Question 5

which muscle helps make up the posterior walls of the pelvic cavity?

Answer 5

piriformis

Question 6

what is the pelvic floor also known as?

Answer 6

the pelvic diaphragm

Question 7

what is the pelvic floor?

Answer 7

a funnel-shaped musculature structure

Question 8

what does the pelvic floor attach to?

Answer 8

walls of the lesser pelvis

Question 9

what does the pelvic floor separate?

Answer 9

the pelvic cavity from the inferior perineum

Question 10

what does the inferior perineum contain?

Answer 10

genitalia and anus

Question 11

what are the gaps within the pelvic floor and what is their purpose?

Answer 11

In order to allow for urination and defecation:
urogenital hiatus
rectal hiatus

Question 12

what is the urogenital hiatus and where is it?

Answer 12

An anteriorly situated gap, which allows passage of the urethra (and the vagina in females)

Question 13

where is the rectal hiatus and what is it’s function?

Answer 13

A centrally positioned gap, which allows passage of the anal canal

Question 14

what lies between the urogenital hiatus and the anal canal?

Answer 14

a fibrous node known as the perineal body

Question 15

what does the perineal body join?

Answer 15

the pelvic floor to the perineum

Question 16

what are the roles of the muscles in the pelvic floor?

Answer 16

Support of abdominopelvic viscera through their tonic contraction
Resistance to increases in intra-pelvic/abdominal pressure
Urinary and fecal continence

Question 17

what are examples of abdominopelvic viscera organs?

Answer 17

bladder, intestines, uterus etc.

Question 18

when would there be increases in intra-pelvic/abdominal pressure?

Answer 18

during activities such as coughing or lifting heavy objects.

Question 19

what is the role of the pelvic floor in Urinary and fecal continence?

Answer 19

The muscle fibers have a sphincter action on the rectum and urethra. They relax to allow urination and defecation

Question 20

how many components are there to the pelvic floor and what are they?

Answer 20

Levator ani muscles (largest component)
Coccygeus muscle
Fascia coverings of the muscles

Question 21

what is the levator ani muscle innervated by?

Answer 21

Innervated by branches of the pudendal nerve

Question 22

what are the roots of the pudendal nerve?

Answer 22

S2, S3, S4

Question 23

what shape is the levator ani?

Answer 23

a broad sheet of muscle

Question 24

what is the levator ani composed of?

Answer 24

three separate paired muscles, called the pubococcygeus, puborectalis and iliococcygeus

Question 25

what is the anterior attachment of the levator ani to the pelvis?

Answer 25

The pubic bodies of the hip bone

Question 26

what is the lateral attachment of the levator ani to the pelvis?

Answer 26

Thickened fascia of the obturator internus muscle, known as the tendinous arch

Question 27

what is the posterior attachment of the levator ani to the pelvis?

Answer 27

The ischial spines of the hip bone

Question 28

what is the puborectalis?

Answer 28

The puborectalis muscle is a U-shaped sling

Question 29

where does the extend from?

Answer 29

extending from the bodies of the pubic bones, past the urogenital hiatus, around the anal canal

Question 30

what type of contraction does the puborectalis carry out?

Answer 30

tonic contraction

Question 31

what happens during the tonic contraction of the puborectalis? what is created?

Answer 31

Its tonic contraction bends the canal anteriorly, creating the anorectal angle

Question 32

where does the anorectal angle occur?

Answer 32

anorectal junction

Question 33

what is the anorectal junction?

Answer 33

where the rectum meets the anus

Question 34

what is the angle of the anorectal angle?

Answer 34

90 degrees

Question 35

what is the main function of the puborectalis?

Answer 35

The main function of this thick muscle is to maintain faecal continence

Question 36

what happens during defecation?

Answer 36

the puborectalis relaxes

Question 37

what is the function of the pubococcygeus?

Answer 37

The muscle fibres of the pubococcygeus are the main constituent of the levator ani

Question 38

where does the pubococcygeus arise from?

Answer 38

arise from the body of the pubic bone and the anterior aspect of the tendinous arch

Question 39

what do the fibres of the pubococcygeus travel?

Answer 39

travel around the margin of the urogenital hiatus and run posteriomedially

Question 40

what do the pubococcygeus fibres attach to once it runs posteriomedially?

Answer 40

the coccyx and anococcygeal ligament

Question 41

where do the fibres of the pubococcygeus run?

Answer 41

As the fibres run inferiorly and medially

Question 42

as the fibres of the pubococcygeus run inferiorly and medially, what does this mean happens to some fibres in males?

Answer 42

some fibres divide and loop around the prostate in males (levator prostatae)

Question 43

as the fibres of the pubococcygeus run inferiorly and medially, what does this mean happens to some fibres in females?

Answer 43

some fibres divide and loop around the vagina in females (pubovaginalis). Some also terminate in the perineal body

Question 44

what happens to the fibres of pubococcygeus which do not loop around the prostate or the vagina?

Answer 44

terminate in the perineal body

Question 45

what type of muscle fibres does the iliococcygeus have?

Answer 45

The iliococcygeus has thin muscle fibres

Question 46

where does the iliococcygeus begin?

Answer 46

start anteriorly at the ischial spines and posterior aspect of the tendinous arch

Question 47

where does the iliococcygeus attach?

Answer 47

attach posteriorly to the coccyx and the anococcygeal ligament

Question 48

what is the coccygeus innervated by?

Answer 48

Innervated by the anterior rami of S4 and S5

Question 49

what is the coccygeus?

Answer 49

the smaller, and most posterior, pelvic floor component

Question 50

what is situated anterior to the coccygeus?

Answer 50

The levator ani muscles situated anteriorly

Question 51

where does the coccygeus originate from?

Answer 51

the ischial spines

Question 52

where does the coccygeus travel to?

Answer 52

the lateral aspect of the sacrum and coccyx, along the sacrospinous ligament