Muscles of the Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor (PF) muscles function to support pelvic floor organs, assist in urinary and fecal continence, aid in sexual performance (orgasm), stabilize connecting joints, and act as a venous and lymphatic pump for the pelvis.

*Click on each image to enlarge.

Female Pelvic Floor
Female Pelvic Floor
Male Pelvic Floor
Male Pelvic Floor
Female Urogenital System
Female Urogenital System
Male Urogenital System
Male Urogenital System
Coccygeus, Piriformis and Obturator Internu
Coccygeus, Piriformis and Obturator Internus
Bony Pelvis
Bony Pelvis

The PF consists of three muscle layers:

  1. Superficial perineal layer: innervated by the pudendal nerve
    • Bulbocavernosus
    • Ischiocavernosus
    • Superficial transverse perineal
    • External anal sphincter (EAS)
  2. Deep urogenital diaphragm layer: innervated by pudendal nerve
    • Compressor urethera
    • Uretrovaginal sphincter
    • Deep transverse perineal
  3. Pelvic diaphragm: innervated by sacral nerve roots S3-S5
    • Levator ani: pubococcygeus (pubovaginalis, puborectalis), iliococcygeus
    • Coccygeus/ischiococcygeus
    • Piriformis
    • Obturator internus

Trigger Points in the muscles of the PF may refer pain in the distribution of the pudendal nerve:

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