Anatomy of the pubovisceral muscle origin: Macroscopic and microscopic findings within the injury zone.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

The levator ani muscle (LA) injury associated with vaginal birth occurs in a characteristic site of injury on the inner surface of the pubic bone to the pubovisceral portion of the levator ani muscle's origin. This study investigated the gross and microscopic anatomy of the pubic origin of the LA in this region.

Methods

Pubic origin of the levator ani muscle was examined in situ then harvested from nine female cadavers (35-98 years). A combination of targeted feature sampling and sequential sampling was used where each specimen was cut sequentially in approximately 5 mm thick slices apart in the area of known LA injury. Histological sections were stained with Masson's trichrome.

Results

The pubovisceral origin is transparent and thin as it attaches tangentially t

SUBMITTER: Kim J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4336854 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature