Ischiocavernosus

Looks like

A thin strip of muscle covering each crus — of the clitoris in women, of the penis in men — along the edge of the pubic arch.

What it does

Tightens in arousal, keeping blood in the erectile tissue.

Keeping it well

Part of the pelvic floor; it can be tight and painful in pelvic-floor dysfunction, which responds to physiotherapy.

Related conditions

• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Botulism
• Chronic constipation
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Prostatitis & pelvic pain
• Rectal prolapse
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus