National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Practice Exam

The muscles on the floor of the pelvis are responsible for forming what structure?

1. Pelvic girdle

2. Pelvic cavity

3. Pelvic outlet

4. Pelvic diaphragm

The correct answer is: Pelvic outlet

The correct answer is that the muscles on the floor of the pelvis are responsible for forming the pelvic diaphragm. The pelvic diaphragm is a group of muscles and connective tissue that create a barrier across the base of the pelvis, supporting the pelvic organs such as the bladder, intestines, and uterus. This muscle structure plays a crucial role in maintaining pelvic stability, controlling intra-abdominal pressure, and aiding in functions such as bowel and bladder control. The pelvic diaphragm specifically consists of the levator ani and coccygeus muscles, which work together to form this functional and supportive structure. Understanding the role of these muscles in maintaining pelvic health and supporting the pelvic organs is important in both therapeutic massage and bodywork contexts, as well as in addressing issues related to pelvic floor dysfunction. In this context, while the pelvic girdle refers to the bony structure made up of the hip bones and sacrum, and the pelvic cavity is the space within the pelvis itself that houses various organs, these choices do not accurately recognize the significance of the muscle composition that constitutes the pelvic diaphragm. The pelvic outlet is the lower border of the pelvis, but it is the pelvic diaphragm that is directly formed by muscle structures.