The levator ani consists of two portions: pubo-visceral and ilio-coccygeus muscles.
The second component of the pelvic diaphragm consists of a group of muscles referred to as the levator ani.
Support, consisting of the levator ani and striated muscles of the pelvic viscerae, is an active process.
The muscles from each side are turned posteriorly within the mucosal envelope and repaired to each other toward the posterior end of the palate to recreate the levator sling.
Uncommon in human anatomy, the levator claviculae is nearly always present in most other mammals including gibbons, orangutans, and chimpanzees.
This rotation is in the opposite direction to that produced by levator scapulae and the rhomboids.
The pubococcygeus, the main part of the levator, runs backward from the body of the pubis toward the coccyx and may be damaged during parturition.
When there is a more severe upper lid retraction or exposure keratitis, marginal myotomy of levator palpebrae associated with lateral tarsal canthoplasty is recommended.
