ABSTRACT
True insight into the mechanisms underlying pelvic organ prolapse (POP), urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence requires an appreciation of the pelvic anatomy, including the muscular and ligamentous mechanisms. These relationships in the asymptomatic population, and the deficiencies seen in symptomatic women, require an approach able to assess the anatomical relationships both in a static situation and also when undergoing physical stress. Cross-sectional imaging is able to achieve this and gives valuable insights from which our current knowledge-base can be developed. In addition, for individual patients, mri scanning can offer supplementary information as needed for diagnostic understanding with a view to treatment. Mri has shown rapid technical development in recent years, and it is now able to offer detailed insights using a range of protocols and modalities, in combination with physical manipulations of the scan subject. Such progress is invaluable for understanding female pelvic floor anatomy for populations and individuals, understanding the changes evident in symptomatic situations, identifying women potentially at risk of future problems, and understanding impact of past events, such as childbirth or surgery.
