Pelvic Organ Prolapse: New Concepts in Pelvic Floor Anatomy

Pedro A Maldonado; Clifford Y Wai

doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2015.10.001

Pelvic Organ Prolapse: New Concepts in Pelvic Floor Anatomy

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2016 Mar;43(1):15-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2015.10.001.

Authors

Pedro A Maldonado¹, Clifford Y Wai²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: pedro.maldonado@utsouthwestern.edu.
² Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

PMID: 26880505
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2015.10.001

Abstract

As the field of reconstructive pelvic surgery continues to evolve, with descriptions of new procedures to repair pelvic organ prolapse, it remains imperative to maintain a functional understanding of pelvic floor anatomy and support. The goal of this review was to provide a focused, conceptual approach to differentiating anatomic defects contributing to prolapse in the various compartments of the vagina. Rather than provide exhaustive descriptions of pelvic floor anatomy, basic pelvic floor anatomy is reviewed, new and historical concepts of pelvic floor support are discussed, and relevance to the surgical management of specific anatomic defects is addressed.

Keywords: Anatomy; Compartments; Concepts; Pelvic floor; Prolapse; Theories.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cervix Uteri / physiopathology
Defecography
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Pelvic Floor / anatomy & histology*
Pelvic Organ Prolapse / diagnosis
Pelvic Organ Prolapse / etiology
Pelvic Organ Prolapse / physiopathology*