Muscles of the Pelvis and Perineum - Listed Alphabetically
|
Muscle |
Origin |
Insertion |
Action |
Innervation |
Artery |
Notes |
Image |
anal sphincter, external |
perineal body or central tendinous point of the perineum |
encircles the anal canal; superficial fibers attach to the coccyx |
constricts the anal canal |
inferior rectal nerves (from the pudendal nerve) |
inferior rectal a. |
skeletal (voluntary) muscle, as contrasted with sphincter ani internus,
which is smooth (involuntary) muscle; the external anal sphincter is considered
part of the pelvic diaphragm |
|
anal sphincter, internal |
encircles the anal canal |
encircles the anal canal |
constricts the anal canal |
parasympathetic fibers from S4 |
middle rectal a. |
smooth muscle (involuntary), as contrasted with sphincter ani externus,
which is skeletal muscle (voluntary) |
|
bulbospongiosus, in female |
perineal body and fascia of the bulb of the vestibule |
perineal membrane and corpus cavernosum of the clitoris |
compresses the vestibular bulb and constricts the vaginal orifice |
deep branch of the perineal nerve (from pudendal nerve) |
perineal a. |
skeletal muscle |
|
bulbospongiosus, in male |
central tendinous point and the midline raphe on the bulb of the penis |
perineal membrane, dorsal surface of the corpus spongiosum, deep penile
fascia |
compresses the bulb of the penis, compresses the spongy urethra |
deep branch of the perineal nerve (from pudendal nerve) |
perineal a. |
expels the last drops of urine from urethra; expels semen during ejaculation |
|
coccygeus |
ischial spine |
side of the coccyx and lower sacrum |
elevates the pelvic floor |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S3-S4 |
inferior gluteal a. |
coccygeus and levator ani combined form the pelvic diaphragm |
|
deep transverse perineus |
medial surface of the ischial ramus |
contralateral muscle and perineal body/central tendinous point |
fixes and stabilizes the perineal body/central tendinous point |
deep branch of perineal nerve from pudendal nerve |
internal pudendal a. |
superficial and deep transverse perineus muscles are separated by the perineal
membrane |
|
detruser of bladder |
smooth muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder |
fascicles are arranged roughly in three layers |
compresses the urinary bladder |
parasympathetic nerve fibers from the pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-S4 spinal
cord levels) |
superior and inferior vesical aa. |
muscles in the neck of bladder must contract and cause the internal urethral
orifice to open before the detruser muscle can void the bladder |
|
iliococcygeus |
arcus tendineus levator ani and the ischial spine |
anococcygeal raphe and the coccyx |
elevates the pelvic floor |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S3-S4 |
inferior gluteal a. |
the combination of puborectalis, pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus is called
the levator ani m. |
|
ischiocavernosus |
medial surface of the ischial tuberosity and the ischiopubic ramus |
corpus cavernosum and crus of the penis/clitoris |
compresses the corpus cavernosum |
deep branch of the perineal nerve (from pudendal nerve) |
perineal a. |
ischiocavernosus m. is closely applied to the surface of the crus penis/clitoris |
|
levator ani |
posterior surface of the body of the pubis, fascia of the obturator internus
m. (arcus tendineus levator ani), ischial spine |
anococcygeal raphe and coccyx |
elevates the pelvic floor |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S3-S4 |
inferior gluteal a. |
the combination of puborectalis, pubococcygeus & iliococcygeus is the levator
ani m.; coccygeus and levator ani combined form the pelvic diaphragm |
|
levator prostatae |
posterior aspect of the pubis |
fascia of the prostate |
elevates the prostate |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S3-S4 |
inferior gluteal a. |
levator prostatae is part of the puborectalis m. |
|
obturator internus |
the internal surface of the obturator membrane and margin of the obturator
foramen |
greater trochanter on its medial surface above the trochanteric fossa |
laterally rotates and abducts the thigh |
nerve to the obturator internus m. |
obturator a. |
the obturator internus m. leaves the pelvis by passing through the lesser
sciatic foramen; the superior and inferior gemellus mm. insert on the obturator
internus tendon |
|
piriformis |
anterior surface of sacrum |
upper border of greater trochanter of femur |
laterally rotates and abducts thigh |
ventral rami of S1-S2 |
|
piriformis leaves the pelvis by passing through the greater sciatic foramen |
|
pubococcygeus |
posterior aspect of the superior pubic ramis |
coccyx |
elevates the pelvic floor |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S3-S4 |
inferior gluteal a. |
the combination of puborectalis, pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus is called
the levator ani m. |
|
puborectalis |
posterior aspect of the body of the pubis |
unites with the puborectalis m. of other side posterior to the rectum |
draws the distal rectum forward and superiorly; aids in voluntary retention
of feces |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S3-S4 |
inferior gluteal a. |
the combination of puborectalis, pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus is called
the levator ani m. |
|
pubovaginalis |
posterior aspect of the body of the pubis |
fascia of the vagina and perineal body |
draws the vagina forward and superiorly |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S3-S4 |
inferior gluteal a. |
pubovaginalis is part of the levator ani muscle |
|
sphincter ani externus |
perineal body or central tendinous point of the perineum |
encircles the anal canal; superficial fibers attach to the coccyx |
constricts the anal canal |
inferior rectal nerves (from the pudendal nerve) |
inferior rectal a. |
skeletal (voluntary) muscle, as contrasted with sphincter ani internus,
which is smooth (involuntary) muscle; the external anal sphincter is considered
part of the pelvic diaphragm |
|
sphincter ani internus |
encircles the anal canal |
encircles the anal canal |
constricts the anal canal |
parasympathetic fibers from S4 |
middle rectal a. |
smooth muscle (involuntary), as contrasted with sphincter ani externus,
which is skeletal muscle (voluntary) |
|
sphincter urethrae, in female |
encircles the urethra |
encircles urethra and vagina; extends superiorly along the urethra as far
as the inferior surface of the bladder |
compresses urethra and vagina |
deep branch of perineal nerve from pudendal nerve |
internal pudendal a. |
skeletal muscle |
|
sphincter urethrae, in male |
encircles the urethra |
encircles urethra, reaches lateral surface of prostate and inferior bladder |
compresses urethra |
deep branch of perineal nerve from pudendal nerve |
internal pudendal a. |
skeletal muscle |
|
superficial transverse perineus |
medial surface of the ischial ramus |
contralateral muscle and the perineal body/central tendinous point |
fixes and stabilizes perineal body/central tendinous point |
deep branch of perineal nerve from pudendal nerve |
perineal a. |
superficial and deep transverse perineus muscles are separated by the perineal
membrane |
|
transverse perineus, deep |
medial surface of the ischial ramus |
contralateral muscle and perineal body/central tendinous point |
fixes and stabilizes the perineal body/central tendinous point |
deep branch of perineal nerve from pudendal nerve |
internal pudendal a. |
superficial and deep transverse perineus muscles are separated by the perineal
membrane |
|
transverse perineus, superficial |
medial surface of the ischial ramus |
contralateral muscle and the perineal body/central tendinous point |
fixes and stabilizes perineal body/central tendinous point |
deep branch of perineal nerve from pudendal nerve |
perineal a. |
superficial and deep transverse perineus muscles are separated by the perineal
membrane |
|