Anatomy · USMLE Step 1

USMLE Anatomy: Perineum and Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor musculature, perineal spaces, and innervation tested on USMLE Step 1.

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What are the three muscles that make up the levator ani?
Puborectalis, pubococcygeus, and iliococcygeus.
Which levator ani muscle forms a U-shaped sling around the anorectal junction?
Puborectalis.
What nerve innervates the levator ani muscle?
The nerve to levator ani (S3-S4), with additional contribution from pudendal nerve branches.
Which muscle, together with the levator ani, forms the pelvic diaphragm?
Coccygeus.
What spinal nerve roots supply the coccygeus muscle?
S4 and S5.
What spinal nerve roots give rise to the pudendal nerve?
S2, S3, and S4.
Through which foramen does the pudendal nerve leave the pelvis to enter the gluteal region?
Greater sciatic foramen.
Through which foramen does the pudendal nerve re-enter to reach the perineum?
Lesser sciatic foramen.
What is the name of the canal that carries the pudendal nerve along the lateral wall of the ischioanal fossa?
Pudendal canal (Alcock's canal).
What bony landmark is palpated to guide a pudendal nerve block during labor?
Ischial spine.
What are the three terminal branches of the pudendal nerve?
Inferior rectal nerve, perineal nerve, and dorsal nerve of the penis/clitoris.
Which pudendal nerve branch innervates the external anal sphincter?
Inferior rectal nerve.
Which artery travels alongside the pudendal nerve through the pudendal canal?
Internal pudendal artery.
What bony and ligamentous landmarks form the diamond-shaped boundary of the perineum?
Pubic symphysis, ischiopubic rami, ischial tuberosities, sacrotuberous ligaments, and coccyx.
An imaginary line between the ischial tuberosities divides the perineum into what two regions?
The urogenital triangle (anterior) and the anal triangle (posterior).

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