Learning Centre - Pelvic floor muscles

The pelvic floor is made up of a superficial muscle group and a deep muscle group.

Superficial Pelvic Floor

The superficial group is the group of muscles at the entrance to the vagina. These muscles are involved in sexual function and bladder control and can be involved in conditions of overactive or short pelvic floor as well as chronic pain conditions such as vulvar vestibulitis or pudendal neuralgia . They can become lax after childbirth and sometimes painful following episiotomies.

Deep Pelvic Floor

The deep pelvic floor is inside the vagina and extends from the pubic bone at the front to the coccyx at the back and to the side walls of the pelvis towards the hips. These muscles are the main support of the pelvic floor. They are formed by a muscle group called the levator ani which acts as both a sling and a shelf of support. It is important in bladder control, bowel control and organ support.