Perineal muscles

Looks like

Three small muscles each side in the shallow pouch in front of the anus — around the vaginal opening in women, the root of the penis in men.

What it does

Squeeze the erectile tissue, steady the perineal body and help close the outlets.

Keeping it well

Pelvic-floor work includes them. In women they tear or are cut in childbirth and are repaired at once.

Its parts

• Bulbospongiosus
• Ischiocavernosus
• Superficial transverse perineal
• Perineal membrane

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