Female pelvic floor biomechanics

Pelvic Floor Function in the Female

Dynamics of the Female Pelvic Floor

Female urinary incontinence has been recently termed a “silent epidemic”, requiring systematic attention and a multidisciplinary approach towards economically ameliorating its impact. In this paper we examine the role of the pelvic floor (PF) in maintaining urinary continence by evaluating the dynamics produced during its voluntary and reflex activation. Analytical methods for the acquisition a...

Functional anatomy of the female pelvic floor.

The anatomic structures in the female that prevent incontinence and genital organ prolapse on increases in abdominal pressure during daily activities include sphincteric and supportive systems. In the urethra, the action of the vesical neck and urethral sphincteric mechanisms maintains urethral closure pressure above bladder pressure. Decreases in the number of striated muscle fibers of the sph...

New imaging method for assessing pelvic floor biomechanics.

OBJECTIVES The investigation of female pelvic floor biomechanics is attracting attention due to its importance in pelvic floor dysfunction and childbirth. To date, there are no established means of assessing pelvic floor elasticity. We propose the use of translabial ultrasound to estimate strain, one element of pubovisceral muscle elasticity. METHODS Ultrasound datasets of 98 women seen at a ...

1 MR Imaging of the Female Pelvic Floor

1. Risk Factors for Pelvic Floor Defects: Pelvic floor defects are common and are seen in 50% of parous women, especially over the age of 50 [1-2]. Risk factors include: pregnancy, childbirth, hysterectomy, congenital or acquired connective tissue abnormalities, white race, denervation or weakness of the pelvic floor, advancing age, estrogen deficiency, obesity, smoking and other factors associ...