title: Pelvic Organ Prolapse: New Concepts in Pelvic Floor Anatomy.
abstract: As the field of reconstructive pelvic surgery continues to evolve, with descriptions of new procedures to repair pelvic organ prolapse, it remains imperative to maintain a functional understanding of pelvic floor anatomy and support. The goal of this review was to provide a focused, conceptual approach to differentiating anatomic defects contributing to prolapse in the various compartments of the vagina. Rather than provide exhaustive descriptions of pelvic floor anatomy, basic pelvic floor anatomy is reviewed, new and historical concepts of pelvic floor support are discussed, and relevance to the surgical management of specific anatomic defects is addressed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: pedro.maldonado@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Pedro A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Clifford Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wai
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000503:physiopathology; D019841:Defecography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Anatomy; Compartments; Concepts; Pelvic floor; Prolapse; Theories