Pelviperineology

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Experimental Study No. 1: Directional muscle forces activate anorectal continence and defecation in the female

PETER PETROS (*) - MICHAEL SWASH (**)

(*) Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia
(**) Dept of Neurology, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK

INTRODUCTION

EMG and radiological data suggest a striated muscle sphincteric mechanism¹ acting during fecal continence control. Though puborectalis and external anal sphincter muscles have been demonstrated to contract during effort,² the role of the other pelvic floor muscles has not been elucidated. The mechanism of defecation is also poorly understood. According to one description ¹ feces enter the anal canal, stimulate stretch receptors and produce the urge to defecate. The internal and external anal sphincters relax, decreasing the pressure within the anus. The rectum contracts and with the assistance of raised intraabdominal pressure (Valsalva) expels the feces. No role is generally assigned for the other pelvic floor muscles.

Shafik ³ suggested an active muscular mechanism for anorectal opening and closure: during straining, the puborectalis, acting as the upper part of a triple loop system, contracts to close off the anal canal; during defecation, the puborectalis muscle relaxes, the levator plate contracts, and the "suspensory sling" lifts upwards to open out the anorectal canal prior to evacuation by "rectal detrusor contraction". This observational study aimed to verify (or not), the directional muscle vectors hypothesized to act during anorectal closure, and also, defaecation. A secondary aim was to identify the hypothesized ligamentous points the vectors act against. Failure to demonstrate these vectors would seriously compromise the Theory.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS

A series of video X-ray studies was performed. Fecal incontinence (FI) was defined as involuntary loss of significant liquid or solid fecal material at least once per day, sufficient to present as a complaint. The diagnosis of idiopathic FI was based on clinical and endoanal ultrasound findings of a normal external anal sphincter (EAS).

X-ray studies of the organs and pelvic muscles at rest and straining

Two groups of patients were studied. The first group of 25 patients had double incontinence, urinary and fecal. Mean age was 60.5 years, range 24-76. Mean parity was 3, range 0-6. The 2^nd (control) group comprised 4 patients with no history whatsoever of urinary or fecal dysfunction. Mean age was 46 years (range 29-68), parity 2 (range 1-3). As part of an IVP and cystogram investigation, they agreed to have a levator myogram. This was performed according to the protocols of Berglas and Rubin.⁴ Hard copies were taken during rest, straining, and squeezing. Ethical considerations precluded evacuating proctograms being performed on these 4 patients.

Evacuating proctograms (video)

These were performed in 15 patients with FI. Radioopaque dye (10 ml) was also inserted into the vagina, Foley catheter balloon, and levator plate. The patients squeezed then strained prior to evacuation. During these x-ray investigations, the estimated radiation dosage did not exceed 9-10 milliSieverts.

Ethics

The levator myoproctogram investigations were carried out with informed consent, under the supervision of the Royal Perth Hospital Ethics Committee, Perth, Western Australia. The tests were ceased at n = 15, when the objectives of the trial, confirmation of the directional forces had been achieved.

EMG

On a separate occasion, simultaneous EMG recordings were taken from the distal vagina and posterior vaginal fornix in FI and control groups using a cylindrical probe during straining and squeezing. The background for this test was as follows: it is generally considered that the pelvic floor relaxes during defecation; straining at stool is a normal part of defecation, and it is said to act by increasing the intraabdominal pressure.
The Musculo-ElasticTheory contradicts this view and predicts that during straining, and therefore defecation, the anterior and posterior parts of the pelvic floor contract. The x-ray studies cannot demonstrate muscle contraction. Failure to demonstrate EMG activity in the distal and proximal parts of vagina would seriously compromise the Theory.

The video-radiological studies (Figs 2-7), confirm the 4 directional movements hypothesized to act in anorectal closure, the 3 in defecation, and the anatomical points against which they act (Fig. 1). There was no difference between the continent and incontinent groups as concerns these directional movements whatever the maneouvre tested: straining, coughing, and "squeezing". Qualitative differences, such as apparent laxity of various organ structures were, however, noted. The vagina and rectum appeared to be stretched more tightly during straining in the patients without urinary or fecal incontinence.

X-ray studies of the organs and pelvic muscles at rest and straining

Control group (n = 4). On comparing the resting films (Fig. 2), with the straining films (Fig. 3), four directional forces become evident (arrows). These appear to stretch the vagina and rectum between 'X' and 'Y', the exact positions of the pubourethral and uterosacral ligaments, much like a trampoline. The perineal body provides anatomical support for more than 50% of the posterior vaginal wall. The perineal body, distal parts of the vagina and midurethra appear to be pulled forwards (forward arrow). There is a distinct indentation of the anal wall, consistent with a force applied from behind, consistent with puborectalis muscle contraction (curved arrow).
The rectum and upper part of the vagina are stretched backwards against "X" and downwards against "Y", arrows (Fig. 3) . In addition, the anterior part of the levator plate becomes angulated downwards.

These video studies indicated a clear relationship between the downward angulation of levator plate and downward displacement of the vagina and rectum, consistent with the fascial attachments of the organs to these ligaments (Fig. 1). Like an elastic membrane, the rectum was markedly altered in shape and position during pelvic floor or pelvic organ movement. Thusit was stretched upwards and forwards during "squeezing" ("lifting up") (as in Fig. 4), but backwards and downwards during straining. Coughing caused an identical, but much faster organ movement than that observed during straining.

During straining, fecal incontinence group (Fig. 6), the same directional muscle forces appear to be acting on the organs as in Fig. 3 , anteriorly, posteriorly and inferiorly. Compared to Figs 2 and 3 , the angulation of the vagina in the FI group is almost vertical at rest (Fig. 5), and on straining (Fig. 6), a stark contrast to the anorectal angulation obvious in Fig. 3 .
The perineal body is not nearly as prominent in Fig. 6 as in Fig. 3 .
Relative to Fig. 5 , the posterior wall of the rectum appears to have been pulled forwards to the vertical position during straining (Fig. 6), consistent with contraction of the puborectalis muscle, accentuating the anorectal angle, but not as much as in Fig. 3 .
Inferiorly, angulation downwards of the anterior border of levator plate (LP) is seen, (downward arrow, Fig. 6), and this is consistent with contraction of the longitudinal muscle of the anus.

During squeezing, fecal incontinence group (Fig. 7).
All the organs have been pulled upwards and forwards, as in Fig. 4 , apparently by contraction of the puborectalis muscle, PRM, which lies below the levator plate muscles.
During defecation, fecal incontinence group (Fig. 8) .
The same three directional muscle forces seen during straining, Fig. 3 , seem to be acting on the walls of the anus and rectum: the distal vagina is pulled forwards; the rectum and proximal vagina have been pulled backwards; levator plate is angulated downwards; The anus has been opened out, consistent with puborectalis muscle 'PRM' relaxation.
As in Fig. 6 , 'T', the insertion of the deep transversus perinei, and "X", the insertion of the pubourethral ligament appear to be acting as firm anchoring points for backward stretching of bladder, vagina and rectum by LP. Surface EMG activity was noted in the distal vagina and posterior fornix during straining and squeezing.

DISCUSSION

It is evident on comparing the resting and straining Figs. 2 and 3 (normal) with Figs. 5 and 6 (FI group), that, even during straining, the vagina and rectum are quite vertical in the FI group, and are not stretched to the horizontal plane as in the normal group. We believe that angulation towards the horizontal plane is an essential element for anorectal angle formation, and therefore, 'airtight' closure. In a previous study,⁵ inability to angulate below 45 degrees on straining was attributed to lax connective tissue, as there was clear evidence of the directional muscle forces continuing to function in such patients.
The video X-ray studies are consistent with the hypothesis, four directional muscle forces acting during anorectal closure, and three during defecation (Fig. 1).

During anorectal closure, and also, defecation, the pubourethral ligaments, uterosacral ligaments and perineal body, appear to be critical anchoring points for rotation and downward displacement of the stretched vagina and rectum (Fig. 1). The straining X-rays are consistent with

1. contraction of puborectalis being a prerequisite for functioning of the musculoelastic sphincter which rotates the rectum around the anus (Fig. 3).
2. The perineal body being anchored by pubococcygeus and deep transversus perinei. The defecation X-rays are consistent with relaxation of puborectalis allowing the other three muscle forces to uninhibitedly stretch and open out the anorectal canal for emptying by rectal contraction. The site of action of the vector forces is consistent with previous anatomical descriptions, pubococcygeus (forwards) 6 levator plate (backwards) 10 and longitudinal muscle of the anus (downwards).^{7, 8}

Recording of EMG activity during straining and squeezing, though not specific for a particular muscle, indicates striated muscle activity consistent with activation of pubococcygeus in the distal vagina, and levator plate, longitudinal muscle of the anus, and puborectalis in the proximal vagina. There were no differences between normal (Fig. 3) and FI patients (Fig. 6) in the direction of the vector forces during straining.

However, entry of feces into the anorectum (Fig. 6) indicates obvious qualitative differences. The X-ray studies also partly tested Shafik's theory of normal anorectal function.³ Shafik's prediction of puborectalis contraction during anal canal closure was validated. Shafik assigned no role for levator plate contraction during anorectal closure.

Shafik stated that the rectum is lifted upwards by the "suspensory sling" to open out the anorectal canal prior to evacuation by rectal detrusor contraction. Contrary to this view, the X-rays demonstrate a backward /downward movement of the rectum, and downward angulation of the anterior lip of levator plate, which seemed to be maintained during evacuation (Fig. 8). Shafik assigned no role for ligaments or connective tissue in his theory, either for function or dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

The observations confirm the participation of directional muscle forces acting against pubourethral and uterosacral ligaments during anorectal closure and also, defecation. Prospective surgical reinforcement of these ligaments will be required to test the hypothesis that ligamentous damage is a major cause of idiopathic FI. The results from such operations are described in Part 2.

REFERENCES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: To the Dept of Medical Illustrations, and Dr Richard Mendelson, from the Dept of Radiology, Royal Perth Hospital.

Correspondence to:

Prof. Peter Petros,
E-mail: kvinno@highway1.com.au