LevatoraniGruppe

LevatoraniGruppe is a term found in some language sources to denote the levator ani muscles, a key group within the pelvic floor that forms the lower part of the pelvic diaphragm. In English-language anatomy the standard designation is the levator ani muscles or levator ani group. The term is most often encountered in regional or translational texts describing pelvic anatomy.

Anatomy and composition commonly include three muscles: the pubococcygeus, the puborectalis, and the iliococcygeus. Some classifications treat the puborectalis as part of the pubococcygeus, while others describe the levator ani as comprising distinct muscles with shared attachment to the inner surface of the pelvic wall and to the coccyx. Together, these fibers span the distance between the pubic bone and the coccyx and surround the outlets of the pelvis.

Innervation is primarily by the pudendal nerve (S2–S4), with additional contributions from direct branches of the sacral plexus. Blood supply comes from branches of the internal iliac system, including the inferior gluteal and internal pudendal arteries. Functionally, the levator ani group supports pelvic organs, maintains continence, elevates and tightens the pelvic floor, and helps regulate the anorectal angle and intra-abdominal pressure during activities such as coughing, lifting, and exertion.

Clinical relevance includes pelvic floor weakness leading to prolapse, urinary or fecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. Strengthening exercises (for example, pelvic floor training) and, in some cases, surgical repair are used to address dysfunction. The LevatoraniGruppe term is mainly encountered in German-language anatomy or translations and is generally synonymous with the levator ani muscles in broader anatomical literature.