title: Modeling the contraction of the pelvic floor muscles.
abstract: We performed numerical simulation of voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles to evaluate the resulting displacements of the organs and muscles. Structures were segmented in Magnetic Resonance (MR) images. Different material properties and constitutive models were attributed. The Finite Element Method was applied, and displacements were compared with dynamic MRI findings. Numerical simulation showed muscle magnitude displacement ranging from 0 to 7.9 mm, more evident in the posterior area. Accordingly, the anorectum moved more than the uterus and bladder. Dynamic MRI showed less 0.2 mm and 4.1 mm muscle dislocation in the anterior and cranial directions, respectively. Applications of this model include evaluating muscle impairment, subject-specific mesh implant planning, or effectiveness of rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology , CHSJ-EPE/Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto , Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernanda Sofia Quintela da Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: b INEGI, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Marco Paulo Lages
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Parente
authors.affiliation: b INEGI, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo Alexandre Gomes Gonçalves
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , CHSJ-EPE/Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto , Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa da Quinta E Costa de Mascarenhas
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology , CHSJ-EPE/Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto , Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel Maria Amorim Pereira
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: b INEGI, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Renato Manuel
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Natal Jorge
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
keywords: biomechanics; computational modeling; female pelvis; finite element method