Pelvic floor physiology

Abstract

Pelvic floor physiology is poorly understood. The funnel shape of the pelvic floor and anal canal is uniquely developed to provide discriminatory continence of gas, liquid, and solid. Proximally, the pelvic floor consists of the pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus muscles. Distally, the anal canal is surrounded by the internal and external sphincter muscles. The anorectal ring is situated between the proximal pelvic floor and the distal anal canal. It is the site of the puborectalis muscle, which is anatomically, neurologically, and functionally merged with the deep portion of the external sphincter muscle. It is at this site that unique forces act to create both a flutter valve and the anorectal angle with the flap valve. Extrinsic pressures at this level reinforce both the flap valve and the flutter valve. Intrinsic pressures are generated by all of the surrounding muscles to produce a high-pressure zone. These factors are critical, but many other factors, such as rectal capacity, compliance, colonic transit, motility, and sensory mechanisms, also interact in a complex way to provide normal continence and defecation. Not surprisingly, no single test allows a complete assessment of the interactions of all these factors. Nevertheless, analysis of components thought to be important in pelvic floor physiology has contributed significantly to the understanding of normal as well as abnormal physiology. Although clinical evaluation continues to be the cornerstone of the diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders, anorectal physiological testing has contributed significantly to our understanding of the dynamics of the pelvic floor. With the refinement of existing techniques and the addition of new investigative tools, it is anticipated that knowledge of pelvic floor physiology will continue to grow.