ArticleInternational urogynecology journal2014
Comparison of muscle fiber directions between different levator ani muscle subdivisions: in vivo MRI measurements in women.
Article in International urogynecology journal, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 67 citations in OpenAlex.
- Biomechanical Model of the Levator Ani Muscle: Identifying the Greatest Strain Areas in Its Subdivisions.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Multiparametric comparative assessment of surgical efficacy in patients with SUI and POP versus normal controls.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Investigation of Uterine Contractility and Myometrial Stiffness in Pelvic Organ Prolapse.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Morphometric Characterization of Levator Ani Subdivisions in Healthy Controls and Patients: An MRI Study Using 3D PICS.International urogynecology journal · 2025Article
- Analysing the support mechanisms of the vaginal ring pessary on supine and upright MRI.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Transvaginal posterior levatorplasty and perineoplasty for female primary stress urinary incontinence: 12-month follow-up and technical presentation.BMC urology · 2024Article
- Sexual Dimorphism in the Architectural Design of Rat and Human Pelvic Floor Muscles.Journal of biomechanical engineering · 2024Article
- Real-World Evidence From a Digital Health Treatment Program for Female Urinary Incontinence: Observational Study of Outcomes Following User-Centered Product Design.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Assessment of pelvic organ prolapse with the Pelvic Inclination Correction System: defining the normal range and threshold to pathology.Abdominal radiology (New York) · 2024Article
- Quantitative 3D Analysis of Levator Ani Muscle Subdivisions in Nulliparous Women: MRI Feasibility Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Twisted orientation of the muscle bundles in the levator ani functional parts in women: Implications for pelvic floor support mechanism.Journal of anatomy · 2024Article
- Pelvic floor injury during vaginal birth is life-altering and preventable: what can we do about it?American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2024Review
- Functional Anatomy of Urogenital Hiatus Closure: the Perineal Complex Triad Hypothesis.International urogynecology journal · 2024Article
- Finite element analysis of female pelvic organ prolapse mechanism: current landscape and future opportunities.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Review
- Location and motion of vaginal pessaries in situ in women with successful and unsuccessful pessary treatment for pelvic organ prolapse.International urogynecology journal · 2023Article
- Appearance of levator ani muscle subdivision defects on level III vaginal support structures in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse: an MRI study.International urogynecology journal · 2023Article
- Pelvic organ movements in asymptomatic nulliparous and symptomatic premenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse in dynamic MRI: a feasibility study comparing midsagittal single-slice with multi-slice sequences.Abdominal radiology (New York) · 2023Article
- Hiatal failure: effects of pregnancy, delivery, and pelvic floor disorders on level III factors.International urogynecology journal · 2023Review
- Non-Invasive Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation in Cancer Population: An Incomplete Cohort.Pain physician · 2022Article
- Breathing, (S)Training and the Pelvic Floor-A Basic Concept.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introduction and hypothesisThis study describes a technique to quantify muscle fascicle directions in the levator ani (LA) and tests the null hypothesis that the in vivo fascicle directions for each LA subdivision subtend the same parasagittal angle relative to a horizontal reference axis.
methodsVisible muscle fascicle direction in the each of the three LA muscle subdivisions, the pubovisceral (PVM; synonymous with pubococcygeal), puborectal (PRM), and iliococcygeal (ICM) muscles, as well as the external anal sphincter (EAS), were measured on 3-T sagittal MRI images in a convenience sample of 14 healthy women in whom muscle fascicles were visible. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) angle values relative to the horizontal were calculated for each muscle subdivision. Repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc paired t tests were used to compare muscle groups.
resultsPubovisceral muscle fiber inclination was 41 ± 8.0°, PRM was -19 ± 10.1°, ICM was 33 ± 8.8°, and EAS was -43 ± 6.4°. These fascicle directions were statistically different (p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons among levator subdivisions showed angle differences of 60° between PVM and PRM, and 52° between ICM and PRM. An 84° difference existed between PVM and EAS. The smallest angle difference between levator divisions was between PVM and ICM 8°. The difference between PRM and EAS was 24°. All pairwise comparisons were significant (p < 0.001).
conclusionsThe null hypothesis that muscle fascicle inclinations are similar in the three subdivisions of the levator ani and the external anal sphincter was rejected. The largest difference in levator subdivision inclination, 60°, was found between the PVM and PRM.
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