Levator Ani Muscle - Origin, Insertion & Function - Human Anatomy | Kenhub

The levator ani muscle forms the main part of the pelvic diaphragm, the cranial layer of the pelvic floor. It is made up by three muscles: the puborectalis, pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus muscles.

The function of the levator ani is the stabilization of the abdominal and pelvic organs, controlling the opening and closing of the levator hiatus, as well as preserving urinary and bowel continence. The levator hiatus is a potential weak spot of the pelvic floor musculature, especially in women. Increased intra-abdominal pressure (e.g. pregnancy, obesity or even chronic cough) can impair and damage the pelvic floor in the long term.

In this video we will go over the different components of the levator ani, their origins and insertions, innervation and functions.

- 0:13 levator ani muscle location
- 0:26 puborectalis muscle
- 0:45 pubococcygeus muscle
- 1:01 iliococcygeus muscle
- 1:14 levator hiatus
- 1:41 innervation of levator ani
- 1:54 levator ani muscle function

Want to test your knowledge on the pelvic viscera and perineum? Take this quiz!

[drhananm]

I am a medical student. very good illustrations and concise explanation. this saved me a lot of reading time. Thanks a lot and cheers from saudi arabia!

[dr.yagnikvaniya]

clear pictures & simple explanation!!

[maryataylor]

Thorough explanation and 3d is awesome in understanding the structure of pelvic floor

[Dr.LemleyHumanAnatomy]

@Maryam-mw6tt is correct. The iliococcygeus and coccygeus are not the same muscles. The coccygeus muscle is posterior to the iliococcygeus and runs from the ischial spine to the coccyx just deep to the sacrospinous ligament.

[kristen]

Thank you so much for this! I was searching for Levator Ani videos yesterday just before this was uploaded. Huge help, thanks again!

[Maryam-mwtt]

Thank you so much for this great video. But I think there is a mistake; iliococcygeous muscle and coccygeous are not the same. As much as I know, iliococcygeous muscle is part of levator ani muscle and is quite different from coccygeous muscle which is a separate muscle which accompanying levator ani muscle make pelvic diaphragm.

[hasankhankhan]

Its really helpful thank u so much for this awesome vedio

[gabbysambienceofrivers]

And also what creates that spreading out feeling of the muscle or vagina? Or at least when I feel that it makes me feel like I have to do a kegel, because that spreading out sensation makes things feel looser and weird than how I felt before

[Niakisses]

or the question would be how can you treat the levator ani syndrome?

[Maryam-mwtt]

On the picture coccygeous muscle is visible posterior to the levator ani muscle.

[Niakisses]

what causes this muscle to have spasms ?

[naimulshimul]

VERY VERY THANK YOU.
NAIMUL, FIRST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT,
DINAJPUR M ABDUR RAHIM MEDICAL COLLEGE, BANGLADESH

[tanieshplum]

would like to see a video on the landmark of the pelvic.

[gabbysambienceofrivers]

Very very informative information. I am wondering are these the layer of muscles that a woman feels when she is doing kegel/pelvic floor exercises? Is that what creates the tightness and gripping friction feeling especially during sex?

[Remedium]

The iliococcygeus muscle is NOT the same as the coccygeus muscle. The coccygeus muscle is also known as the ischiococcygeus muscle and runs from the ischial spine to the coccyx. This part of the video is pretty misleading...

[prashantgodage]

Iliococcyges is not known as coccygeus (Ischiococcygeus known as coccygeus)

[elizabethmcleod]

I had a titanium metal Filshie clip migrate to my levator ani. It stretched my inferior rectal nerve and the portion of my pudendal nerve that enervates the rectum and perineum.
The nerves were decompressed successfully BUT the doctors covered up the clip.
Nine years later a compassionate gynaecologist removed the clip. That was three years ago and my levator ani feels permanently clenched. Nothing helps it. I’m desperate.

[iamric]

I was diagnose with a levator spasm. Does pain associated with this come from the center of the anus?

[SobrietyandSolace]

Since my IUD perforated me and I had to have it yanked out, I have had chronic sharp spasms in all of these muscles. It's crippling. When I try to explain this pain to doctors they just shrug and say sometimes pelvic pain Is inexplicable.