Female pelvic floor anatomy: the pelvic floor, supporting structures, and pelvic organs

Sender Herschorn

Female pelvic floor anatomy: the pelvic floor, supporting structures, and pelvic organs

Rev Urol. 2004;6 Suppl 5(Suppl 5):S2-S10.

Author

Sender Herschorn

PMID: 16985905
PMCID: PMC1472875

Abstract

The development of novel, less invasive therapies for stress urinary incontinence in women requires a thorough knowledge of the relationship between the pathophysiology of incontinence and anatomy. This article provides a review of the anatomy of the pelvic floor and lower urinary tract. Also discussed is the hammock hypothesis, which describes urethral support within the pelvis and provides an explanation of the continence mechanism.