Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Muscles of the Pelvic Floor and Perineum01:26

Muscles of the Pelvic Floor and Perineum

1.7K
The muscles of the pelvic floor and perineum are crucial for supporting the pelvic organs, controlling continence, and aiding in sexual function, childbirth, and core stability. They are typically divided into the superficial perineal layer and the deep pelvic floor layer.
Perineal Layer
The perineum is a diamond-shaped area below the pelvic diaphragm, divided into an anterior urogenital triangle that contains the external genitals and a posterior anal triangle housing the anus. The urogenital...
1.7K
Assessment of the Rectum and Anus01:25

Assessment of the Rectum and Anus

328
Evaluating the rectum and anus plays a crucial role in conducting a thorough physical examination of the gastrointestinal system. Although it may be uncomfortable and often embarrassing for the patient, it holds immense diagnostic value, particularly in detecting gastrointestinal diseases and abnormalities. This guide will explain how to perform this assessment using inspection and palpation methods.
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
328
Feces Formation and Defecation01:26

Feces Formation and Defecation

1.2K
After spending 3 to 10 hours in the large intestine, chyme loses a lot of water and becomes feces, the final product of digestion. Feces consist of undigested dietary fiber such as cellulose, mucus, sloughed-off epithelial cells, and microbes. The descending and sigmoid colon stores feces and uses haustral contractions to dry it out but retains enough water to give it a semi-solid texture.
The mass peristalsis then pushes the feces into the rectum, which stretches the rectal walls to activate...
1.2K
Urinary Bladder01:23

Urinary Bladder

1.2K
The urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular sac that temporarily stores urine before it is expelled from the body. It can hold approximately 600 mL of urine prior to micturition. The bladder is retroperitoneal and located behind the pubic symphysis in the pelvic floor.
In males, the bladder is situated in front of the rectum, while in females, it is positioned anterior to the vagina and uterus. The bladder floor contains an inverted triangular area called the trigone, defined by the two ureteric...
1.2K
Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management01:22

Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management

35
IntroductionA range of clinical features characterizes Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP), but it is important to note that many individuals with MVP are asymptomatic and may remain so throughout their lives. For those who do exhibit symptoms, the following are the key clinical features:Palpitations: This is a common symptom where individuals feel an irregular or rapid heartbeat. Palpitations in MVP are often due to arrhythmias such as premature ventricular contractions or supraventricular...
35
Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction01:27

Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction

31
IntroductionThe mitral valve, one of the heart's four valves, regulates blood flow. These valves have flaps that open and close to direct blood properly through the heart and body. During each heartbeat, the flaps open for blood to pass through and seal shut to prevent backflow. Specifically, the mitral valve opens to allow blood flow from the heart's upper left chamber to the lower left chamber. It then closes securely as the lower left chamber contracts to pump blood to the body, preventing...
31

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Identifying and managing pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
Same author

Patient preference of integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound versus defaecatory proctography.

Ultrasound (Leeds, England)·2025
Same author

Socio-demographic and clinical predictors for initiation of rectal irrigation in patients with evacuation disorders.

British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)·2025
Same author

Can we use integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound as a screening tool in defaecatory pelvic floor dysfunction? A prospective evaluation of the accuracy of integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound compared with defaecation proctography.

Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland·2025
Same author

Efficacy of multimodal treatment involving Baclofen, pelvic floor physiotherapy and polysomnography for sleep related painful erections (SRPE): a single centre observational cohort study.

International journal of impotence research·2024
Same author

Racial Disparities in Pelvic Floor Disorders.

Annals of surgery·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse
07:41

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Published on: April 17, 2019

10.0K

The association between levator plate integrity and pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction.

Alison Hainsworth1, Deepa Solanki1, Linda Ferrari1

  • 1The Pelvic Floor Unit, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Neurourology and Urodynamics
|January 24, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Levator ani deficiency is linked to anatomical pelvic floor abnormalities like rectocele and intussusception. While bowel symptoms showed no link, vaginal symptoms were associated with levator ani deficiency.

Keywords:
defaecatory dysfunctionendovaginal ultrasoundlevator platepelvic floor disordersultrasonography

More Related Videos

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System
03:49

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System

Published on: September 20, 2018

19.2K
Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model
08:58

Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model

Published on: August 17, 2022

4.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse
07:41

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Published on: April 17, 2019

10.0K
Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System
03:49

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System

Published on: September 20, 2018

19.2K
Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model
08:58

Development of a Uterosacral Ligament Suspension Rat Model

Published on: August 17, 2022

4.1K

Area of Science:

  • Pelvic floor disorders
  • Colorectal surgery
  • Urogynecology

Background:

  • Levator ani deficiency is implicated in anterior pelvic floor pathology.
  • Its association with pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction is less clear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between levator ani deficiency and anatomical abnormalities (rectocele, intussusception, enterocele, perineal descent).
  • To investigate the association between levator ani deficiency and patient symptoms (bowel, vagina) in those with pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational case series of 223 women with defaecatory dysfunction.
  • Assessment included symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) scores, integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound (PFUS), and defaecation proctography (DP).
  • Levator ani deficiency was scored using endovaginal ultrasound (mild, moderate, severe).

Main Results:

  • The proportion of patients with rectocele, enterocele, and intussusception increased with worsening levator ani deficiency.
  • Weakly positive correlations were found between rectocele size, intussusception, enterocele, perineal descent, and levator ani deficiency.
  • No association was found between bowel symptoms or QoL scores and levator ani deficiency; however, vaginal symptoms were associated.

Conclusions:

  • Anatomical abnormalities associated with pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction correlate with increased levator ani deficiency.
  • While bowel symptoms are not linked, vaginal symptoms are associated with levator ani deficiency.