Pubococcygeus muscle

Pubococcygeus muscle
Pubococcygeus muscle
Gray404.png
Muscles of the lower abdomen.
Latin musculus pubococcygeus
Gray's subject #119 424
Origin back of the pubis and from the anterior part of the obturator fascia
Insertion    coccyx and sacrum
Artery
Nerve S3, S4
Actions controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm

The pubococcygeus muscle or PC muscle is a hammock-like muscle, found in both sexes, that stretches from the pubic bone to the coccyx (tail bone) forming the floor of the pelvic cavity and supporting the pelvic organs. It is part of the levator ani group of muscles.

Contents

Function

The Pubococcygeus muscle controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm. It also aids in urinary control and childbirth as well as core stability.[1]

A strong pubococcygeus muscle has also been linked to a reduction in urinary incontinence and proper positioning of the baby's head during childbirth.

Kegel exercises

The Kegel exercises are a series of voluntary contractions of all the perineal muscles. Such movement is done in an effort to strengthen all the striated muscles in the perineum's area. They are often referred to simply as "kegels", named after their founder, Dr. Arnold Kegel.[2] These exercises also serve to contract, among others, the ischiocavernosus, bulbocavernosus, and cremaster muscle in men, as voluntary contraction of the pubococcygeus muscle also engages the cremasteric reflex, which lifts the testicles up, although this does not occur in all men. Kegel exercises have been prescribed to ameliorate erectile dysfunction due to venous leakage and to help men control premature ejaculation[3] and to treat urinary incontinence in both sexes.[4][5]

Anatomy

The pubococcygeus arises from the back of the pubis and from the anterior part of the obturator fascia, and is directed backward almost horizontally along the side of the anal canal toward the coccyx and sacrum, to which it finds attachment.

Between the termination of the vertebral column and the anus, the two pubococcygei muscles come together and form a thick, fibromuscular layer lying on the raphé (anococcygeal raphé) formed by the iliococcygei.

The greater part of this muscle is inserted into the coccyx and into the last one or two pieces of the sacrum.

This insertion into the vertebral column is, however, not accepted by all observers.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.alinenewton.com/pdf-articles/core.htm
  2. ^ Kegel exercises Gannet Health Services. Cornwell University website
  3. ^ How To do Kegel Exercises (for men) Silverberg, Corey. About.com
  4. ^ Hay-Smith EJ, Dumoulin C (2006). "Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (1): CD005654. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005654. PMID 16437536. 
  5. ^ Hunter KF, Glazener CM, Moore KN (2007). "Conservative management for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (2): CD001843. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001843.pub3. PMID 17443512. 

External links




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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pubococcygeus muscle — /ˌpjuboʊkɒkˈsɪdʒiəs mʌsəl/ (say .pyoohbohkok sijeeuhs musuhl) noun Anatomy a band of muscle stretching from the pubic bone to the coccyx, and giving support to the pelvic organs. Also, PC muscle …  

  • Muscle — is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. There are three types of muscle in the body. Muscle which is responsible for moving extremities and external areas of the body is called "skeletal muscle." Heart… …   Medical dictionary

  • Muscle — For other uses of Muscle , see Muscle (disambiguation). A top down view of skeletal muscle Muscle (from Latin …   Wikipedia

  • pubococcygeal muscle — pubococcygeus muscle musculus pubococcygeus …   Medical dictionary

  • pubococcygeus — noun A hammocklike muscle, found in both sexes, that stretches from the pubic bone to the coccyx; it controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm …   Wiktionary

  • Cremaster muscle — The cremaster muscle appears as a thin layer just superficial to the tunica vaginalis. Latin musculus cremaster Gray s …   Wikipedia

  • Coccygeus muscle — Left Levator ani from within. Latin musculus coccygeus Gray s …   Wikipedia

  • PC muscle — /pi ˈsi mʌsəl/ (say pee see musuhl) noun → pubococcygeus muscle …  

  • Rectus abdominis muscle — Rectus abdominis The human rectus abdominis muscle. Latin musculus rectus abdominis Gray s …   Wikipedia

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