The puborectalis is a muscle of the pelvic floor. It is part of the levator ani muscle group, and the most important for maintaining faecal continence.
- Attachments: Originates from the posterior surface of the pubis. It forms a U-shaped sling around the anal canal, and attaches to the pubis on the contralateral side.
- Actions: onic contraction bends the anal canal anteriorly. This creates the anorectal angle which contributes to faecal continence. It is voluntarily inhibited during defecation.
- Innervation: Nerve to levator ani and pudendal nerve.
- Blood supply: Inferior gluteal, inferior vesical and pudendal arteries.
Adapted from work by OpenStax [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Fig 1 – Superior (bird’s eye) view of the pelvic floor. Note the prerectal fibres of the puborectalis.