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Perineal Trauma at Childbirth pp 17–39Cite as

Anatomy and Physiology of the Pelvic Floor

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Abstract

The functional anatomy of the pelvic floor is based on a triple system of suspensor ligaments, cohesive fascia and muscle support. The integrity of these systems is essential if a normal anatomic and functional pelvi-perineal equilibrium is to be maintained. The levator ani is the principal muscle of the pelvic floor. It is made up mainly of the ileococcygeus muscle, that forms the levator plate, and the pubovisceral (or pubococcygeus) muscle which shares connective tract with adjacent organs and is divided into 2 bundles, the pubovaginal bundle and the puborectal bundle that is key to maintaining the pelvi-perineal functional equilibrium.

The pelvic floor plays many crucial roles in urinary continence, micturition, anal continence, defecation cycles, maintaining healthy sexuality and preserving the possibilities of pregnancy and normal childbirth. The fulfillment of all these roles depends on a complex and delicate balance that must be conserved.

The occurrence of pelvic floor disorders can be explained by successive exposures during life to congenital (tissue and anatomic factors), acquired (particularly obstetric trauma to the perineum), lifestyle and aging-related factors.

Adapted and translated from [1] Fatton B, Cayrac M, Letouzey V, Masia F, Mousty E, Marès P, Prudhomme M, de Tayrac R. Functional anatomy of the pelvic floor. Encyclopédie Médico-Chirurgicale. Gynecologie. Paris: Elsevier France; 2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Caremeau University Hospital, Nimes, France

    Renaud de Tayrac, Vincent Letouzey, Mélanie Cayrac, Florent Masia, Eve Mousty, Pierre Marès, Michel Prudhomme & Brigitte Fatton

  2. LMU Munich/Frauenarztpraxis am Pasinger Bahnhof, August-Exter-Str. 4, 81245, Munich, Germany

    Katharina Jundt

  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France

    Xavier Fritel

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  1. Renaud de Tayrac
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  2. Katharina Jundt
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  3. Vincent Letouzey
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  4. Mélanie Cayrac
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  5. Florent Masia
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  10. Brigitte Fatton
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Correspondence to Renaud de Tayrac .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Khaled M. K. Ismail

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de Tayrac, R. et al. (2016). Anatomy and Physiology of the Pelvic Floor. In: Ismail, K. (eds) Perineal Trauma at Childbirth. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14860-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14860-1_2

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