Seminars in Colon & Rectal Surgery
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 57-62, March 2007

Pelvic Relaxation—Anatomical Considerations

  • Peter M. Sagar
    • ,
  • John H. Pemberton

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to: John H. Pemberton, MD, Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic. East 6-A, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905.

Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN.

The anatomy of the pelvic floor and anal canal, although nicely illustrated in most texts on anatomy, is actually poorly understood. The confusion has resulted in multiple interpretations of basic morphology. Most simply, the pelvic floor is responsible for continence and for defecation, but alterations in either lead to complex and confusing presentations in an ever increasing number of patients. In this article, we detail the anatomy as we best understand it and relate form to the primary function of the area, maintaining continence and facilitating defecation.

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 Sagar PM and Pemberton JH. Pelvic Relaxation-Anatomical Considerations. Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery. 7:122-128, 1996

 Pelvic floor abnormalities and their treatment depend on a detailed understanding of the anatomy and physiology involved. This article provides a specific yet understandable description of pelvic floor anatomy, with particular emphasis on pudendal nerve function and functional anatomy of the anorectum.

PII: S1043-1489(06)00117-5

doi:10.1053/j.scrs.2006.12.010

Seminars in Colon & Rectal Surgery
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 57-62, March 2007

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