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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Neurourol Urodyn. 2014 Aug 22;34(8):774–780. doi: 10.1002/nau.22649

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Examples of medial, central and lateral region histology of the pubic origin of the PVM. Each row is from a different donor. Histological images showing the pubic origin of the levator ani from medial (column 1), central (column 2), and lateral (column 3) areas with the orientation picture below. All samples shown are stained in Masson's trichrome, and the scale bars are 5 mm for each row of images. Medial: The medial LA fibers originate from multiple slips attaching in an enthesis to the pubis; oblique interface between the pubic bone (PB) and the levator ani muscle (LA) can also be observed. The thickness of the LA is greater than in other areas. N/A denotes missing data due to a technical issue during harvesting process. Central: The central portion originates from the PB in a single aponeurotic attachment, which is noticeably thinner than medial portion. The obturator internus muscle (OI) can be seen lateral to the LA. Lateral: The levator arch (LArch) appears as dense blue connective tissue attaching to the PB and forming the lateral margin of the pubic origin of the LA. Note that relative preponderance of the three portions varies by individual.