Pelvic floor

Information about the anatomy, the function and the position of the pelvic floor.

Figure 2 shows a frontal view of the female genitalia.

Remember that this is a simplified schematic representation. The appearance of the genitalia can vary considerably from one woman to another.

Figure 3 shows an image of the pelvic floor muscles in the area of the female reproductive organs. The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that surround the pelvic orifices. The pelvic floor consists of a muscle layer of approximately 2 cm thick, which runs from the coccyx towards the pubic bone and between the ischial tuberosities of the buttocks (see Figure 4). Shape-wise it resembles a hammock. In females there are three openings in this muscle layer, namely the urethral opening, the vagina and the anus.

Figure 2: Frontal view of the female genitalia.

** Figure legend: Mons veneris, Prepuce, Clitoris, Labia majora, Urethra, Labia minora, Vaginal opening, Perineum, Anus

The pelvic floor has multiple functions, including:

• the support function, in supporting the contents of the abdomen, such as the bladder, the uterus and the intestines;
• the sphincter function, to help you to control bowel and bladder movements and to close off the vagina; upon relaxation it allows voiding of urine and feces, and relaxation of the vagina, to allow entry of an object;
• the sexual function: during sexual arousal the pelvic floor muscles tense and relax intermittently. This tensing may play a role in sexual sensation and stimulate sexual arousal. During orgasm the pelvic floor muscles contract involuntarily and repeatedly in a rhythmic fashion.

As with all other muscles you can practice tensing and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, and so learn to control them.

Figure 4 shows the female pelvis; the pelvis chiefly consists of skeletal bones. When you sit up straight in a chair, you will be able to feel an ischial tuberosity in each buttock. Between these ischial tuberosities, along their width runs the pelvic floor. You are, therefore, sitting on the middle part of your pelvic floor (the area around the vagina). If you lean forward a little, you will lean on your pubic bone and the pelvis will tilt forward. You are now sitting more on the front part of your pelvic floor (the area around the urethra). If you now lean backwards, you are will lean more on your coccyx and the pelvis will tilt backwards. This means you are now sitting on the rear part of your pelvic floor (the area around the anus).

Figure 3: The pelvic floor muscles Figure 4: The female pelvis surrounding the female

reproductive organs

** Figure legend 3 : Clitoris, Pelvic floor muscles (2x), Pelvic floor muscle (2x),Vagina, Anus. Figure legend 4: Pubic bone, Ischial tuberosities, Coccyx.