When Mrs. O'Brien returned to her doctor for a follow-up visit after childbirth, she complained that she was incontinent (having problems controlling her urine flow) when she sneezed. The physician asked his nurse to give Mrs. O'Brien instructions on how to perform exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. To which muscles was he referring?

Video transcript

Everyone. Let's take a look at this question together. After giving birth, Samantha has trouble controlling her bowel movements. Her doctor suggested exercises to strengthen her weakened levator ani muscles. What is the function of the levator ani muscles in assisting with bowel movements? Is it answer choice. A regulating blood flow to the lower extremities. Answer choice B contracting to assist with bowel movements. Answer choice C controlling the flow of urine during urination or answer choice D assisting with breathing during exercise. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices describes the function of the levator ani muscles in assisting with bowel movements. So when talking about the function of the levator ani muscles, we note that they work to control the opening or closing of the anal spincter through contraction, which means that the function of the levator ani muscles in assisting with bowel movements is the contraction of the anal sphincter. So answer choice B contracting to assist with bowel movements is the correct answer. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.