The Pelvis & Pelvic Floor (AP) Flashcards
Which muscles form the muscular wall of the pelvis?
- Obturator internus
- Piriformis
What prevents displacement of abdominal and pelvic organs through the pelvic outlet?
Pelvic diaphragm
Muscles of the pelvic floor
- Levator ani
- Coccygeus
Muscles that make up levator ani
- Pubococcygeus
- Puborectalis
- Iliococcygeus
Where do muscles of levator ani arise from and insert into?
- A = pubic bone
- I = arcus tendineus
What is arcus tendineus?
A line of thickened fascia
Which structures pass through the pelvic diaphragm?
- Urethra
- Anus
- Vagina (females)
What is the perineum?
Region beneath the pelvic diaphragm
What is triradiate ossification?
When triradiate cartilage of acetabulum ossifies
True vs false pelvis
- T = area contained within pelvic inlet
- F = area superior to pelvic inlet
What is contained in the true pelvis?
- Pelvic colon
- Rectum
- Bladder
- Some reproductive organs
What is contained in the false pelvis?
- Ileum
- Sigmoid colon
What is the perineal body, where is it located and why is it important?
- Fibro-muscular structure
- In midline of perineum, at junction of anus + urogenital triangle
- Critical for maintaining integrity of pelvic floor (especially in females)
Male vs female pelvis (general structure of bone, pubic angle, acetabulum, sacrum, coccyx, pelvic inlet)
- Male is thicker, heavier, more prominent markings
- Male angle is 50-60° (F = 80-90°)
- Male acetabula are larger, closer together
- Male sacrum is narrower, longer
- Male coccyx is less moveable, curved ventrally
- Male pelvic inlet is narrower, more heart-shaped
Functions of pelvic diaphragm
- Support abdominopelvic viscera
- Resistance to increased intra-pelvic/abdominal pressure
- Urinary/faecal continence
