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Functional Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor and Lower Urinary Tract

  • Chapter
Pelvic Floor Re-education

Abstract

Pelvic floor rehabilitation is dependent on a meticulous insight into relevant anatomy. Therefore, this chapter describes not only the anatomy of the organs and muscles involved but also their topography and innervation. Predominantly its focus is on functional anatomy. Besides other issues, the following questions, which are necessary for understanding pelvic floor function, are extensively discussed:

  • How is the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) able to empower the urethral closure mechanism?

  • What are the anatomical deficiencies related to the prevention of successful pelvic floor re-education?

  • How are the pelvic organs kept in place?

  • What is the anatomical deficit when stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or prolapse occurs?

  • What is the mechanism of the anal sphincter unit?

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Zürich and Praxis am Stadelhoferplatz, Zürich, Switzerland

    Daniele Perucchini MD

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    John O. L. DeLancey MD

Authors
  1. Daniele Perucchini MD
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  2. John O. L. DeLancey MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynaecology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany

    Kaven Baessler MD (Consultant Gynaecologist) (Consultant Gynaecologist)

  2. Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Kathryn L. Burgio PhD (Professor of Medicine, Associate Director) (Professor of Medicine, Associate Director)

  3. Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Kathryn L. Burgio PhD (Professor of Medicine, Associate Director) (Professor of Medicine, Associate Director)

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Peggy A. Norton MD (Professor Chief of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery) (Professor Chief of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery)

  5. Neue Frauenklinik, Kantonsspital Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland

    Bernhard Schüssler MD, PhD (Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) (Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

  6. Department of Urogynaecology, University of New South Wales St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Kate H. Moore MBBS, MD, FRCOG, FRANZCOG, CU (Associate Professor) (Associate Professor)

  7. Portland Hospital, London, UK

    Stuart L. Stanton FRCS, FRCOG, FRANZCOG(Hon) (Professor of Pelvic Floor Reconstruction and Urogynaecology) (Professor of Pelvic Floor Reconstruction and Urogynaecology)

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Perucchini, D., DeLancey, J.O.L. (2008). Functional Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor and Lower Urinary Tract. In: Baessler, K., Burgio, K.L., Norton, P.A., Schüssler, B., Moore, K.H., Stanton, S.L. (eds) Pelvic Floor Re-education. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-505-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-505-9_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-968-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-505-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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