Pubococcygeus muscle
Encyclopedia
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.
as well as core stability.
A strong pubococcygeus muscle has also been linked to a reduction in urinary incontinence
and proper positioning of the baby's head during childbirth.
s 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
. 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 leak
age and to help men control premature ejaculation
and to treat urinary incontinence in both sexes.
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.
) (Pubococcygeus)
Coccyx
The coccyx , commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column. Comprising three to five separate or fused vertebrae below the sacrum, it is attached to the sacrum by a fibrocartilaginous joint, the sacrococcygeal symphysis, which permits limited movement between...
(tail bone) forming the floor
Pelvic floor
The pelvic floor or pelvic diaphragm is composed of muscle fibers of the levator ani, the coccygeus, and associated connective tissue which span the area underneath the pelvis. The pelvic diaphragm is a muscular partition formed by the levatores ani and coccygei, with which may be included the...
of the pelvic cavity
Pelvic cavity
-External links:* * *...
and supporting the pelvic organs. It is part of the levator ani
Levator ani
The levator ani is a broad, thin muscle, situated on the side of the pelvis.It is attached to the inner surface of the side of the lesser pelvis, and unites with its fellow of the opposite side to form the greater part of the floor of the pelvic cavity....
group of muscles.
Function
The Pubococcygeus muscle controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm. It also aids in urinary control and childbirthChildbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
as well as core stability.
A strong pubococcygeus muscle has also been linked to a reduction in urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is any involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a profound impact on quality of life. Urinary incontinence almost always results from an underlying treatable medical condition but is under-reported to medical practitioners...
and proper positioning of the baby's head during childbirth.
Kegel exercises
The Kegel exerciseKegel exercise
A pelvic floor exercise, more commonly called a Kegel exercise , consists of contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor, which are now sometimes colloquially referred to as the "Kegel muscles". Several tools exist to help with these exercises, though many are ineffective...
s are a series of voluntary contractions of all the perineal muscles
Perineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
. 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
Arnold Kegel
Arnold H. Kegel M.D., F.A.C.S. was a gynecologist who invented the Kegel Perineometer and Kegel exercises as non-surgical treatment of genital relaxation...
. These exercises also serve to contract, among others, the ischiocavernosus, bulbocavernosus, and cremaster muscle
Cremaster muscle
-Contraction:Its function is to raise and lower the testes in order to regulate the temperature of the testes and promote spermatogenesis. Contraction may also occur during arousal which can prevent injury to the testicles during sex....
in men, as voluntary contraction of the pubococcygeus muscle also engages the cremasteric reflex
Cremasteric reflex
The cremasteric reflex is a superficial reflex observed in human males.This reflex is elicited by lightly stroking the superior and medial part of the thigh...
, which lifts the testicles up, although this does not occur in all men. Kegel exercises have been prescribed to ameliorate erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
due to venous leak
Venous leak
An erection is produced when blood to the penis compress the veins in the corpora cavernosa so the blood cannot leave.Venous leakage is a result of these veins not closing well enough to retain the blood, and the erection is lost.-External links:*...
age and to help men control premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is a condition in which a man ejaculates earlier than he or his partner would like him to. Premature ejaculation is also known as rapid ejaculation, rapid climax, premature climax, or early ejaculation....
and to treat urinary incontinence in both sexes.
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 canalAnal canal
The anal canal is the terminal part of the large intestine.It is situated between the rectum and anus, below the level of the pelvic diaphragm. It lies in the anal triangle of perineum in between the right and left ischioanal fossa....
toward the coccyx
Coccyx
The coccyx , commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column. Comprising three to five separate or fused vertebrae below the sacrum, it is attached to the sacrum by a fibrocartilaginous joint, the sacrococcygeal symphysis, which permits limited movement between...
and sacrum
Sacrum
In vertebrate anatomy the sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx...
, 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
Raphé
Raphé can refer to:* Rafe, a diacritic ֿ a short horizontal overbar placed above certain letters to indicate that they are to be pronounced as fricatives* Raphe, scientific term...
(anococcygeal raphé
Anococcygeal raphe
The fibers of the Levator ani pass downward and backward to the middle line of the floor of the pelvis; the most posterior are inserted into the side of the last two segments of the coccyx; those placed more anteriorly unite with the muscle of the opposite side, in a median fibrous raphe, the...
) 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.
External links
(as part of levator aniLevator ani
The levator ani is a broad, thin muscle, situated on the side of the pelvis.It is attached to the inner surface of the side of the lesser pelvis, and unites with its fellow of the opposite side to form the greater part of the floor of the pelvic cavity....
) (Pubococcygeus)
- PC Muscles—How to Strengthen