PELVIC FLOOR
The soft tissues that fill the outlet of the pelvis from the
pelvic floor .
Definition :
Pelvic floor is a muscular partition , which separates the
pelvic cavity from the anatomical perineum
Muscle layers of the pelvic floor:
THE SUPERFICIAL LAYER:
This layer is composed of five
muscles:
1.
The external anal
sphincter : it encircles the anus and is attached behind by the few
fibres to the coccyx.
2.
The transverse perineal
muscles : it passes from the ischial tuberosity to the center of the
perineum.
3.
The bulbocavernosus
muscles: it passes from the ischial tuberosity along the pubic arch to
the corpora cavernosa.
4.
The ischiocavernosus
muscles: it passes from the ischial tuberosity along the pubic arch to
the corpora cavernosa.
5.
The membranous sphincter
of the urethra: it is composed of muscle fibres passing above and below
the urethra and attached to the pubic bones.
THE
DEEP LAYERS:
This layer is composed of three pairs of
muscles, which together are known as the levator ani muscles. They are called
so because they lift or elevate the anus. Each levator ani muscle (left and
right) consists of the following:
1.
THE PUBOCOCCYGEUS
MUSCLE: it passes from the pubis to the coccyx, with a few fibres
crossing over in the perineal body to form its deepest.
2.
THE ILIOCOCCYGEUS MUSCLE
: it passes from the fascia covering the obturator internus muscle
(white line of the pelvic fascia).
3.
THE ISCHIOCOCCYGEUS
MUSCLE: it passes from the ischial spine to the coccyx, in front of the
sacrospinous ligament in between the muscle layers above and below, there are
layers of pelvic fascia.
This is a loose areolar tissue
that acts as a packing material in the spaces. The tissue that fills the
triangular space betwwen the bulbocavernsous, the ischiocavernsous and the
transverse perineal muscles is known as the triangular ligament.
FUNCTIONS
OF THE PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES:
1.
The pelvic floor supports the weight of the
abdominal and pelvic organs.
2.
Pelvic muscles are responsible are responsible
for the voluntary control of micturition and defecation and play an important
part in the sexual intercourse.
3.
In childbirth it influences the passive
movements of the fetus through the birth canal by facilitating the anterior internal rotation of the
presenting part when it presses on the pelvic floor and relaxes to allow the
exist of the fetus from the pelvis.
4.
It helps to maintain the intra abdominal
pressure by reflex responding to its changes.
5.
Ischiococcygeus helps to stabilize the
sacroiliac and sacrococcygeal joints.
6.
It helps to study the perineal body.
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