Word: pubococcygeus
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...most neglected muscles in the human body may also be one of the most important. It is, says the University of Southern California's Dr. Arnold H. Kegel, the pubococcygeus, which lies near the base of the pelvis, just above the perineum* It has the task of holding up the organs in the lower pelvis. But, Kegel believes, in many cases-particularly among women-it may not be highly enough developed by nature to do its job efficiently...
Most doctors pay little attention to the pubococcygeus until a woman has serious trouble;resulting from its inability to support vital organs-usually after childbirth. Then, in severe cases, they call in the surgeon. Dr. Kegel, 62, gynecologist and onetime (1927-31) health commissioner of Chicago, argues that this is wrong on two counts: 1) the importance of the pubococcygeus has been neglected because it has usually been studied only in cadavers, where it is always flaccid, whereas its weakness should be detected promptly in living patients; 2) there is a better way than surgery to correct most cases...
...trouble is that most women have no idea that they possess a muscle called pubococcygeus, let alone know how to strengthen it. At his Perineometer Clinic at Los Angeles County General Hospital, Dr. Kegel has developed an answer to that problem: a device (approved by the A.M.A.) called the Perineometer. Essentially a pressure-registering gauge, it consists of a compressible part inserted in the vagina, and a dial. Dr. Kegel tells the patient being tested to tighten her muscles. If the needle registers above 20 or 25 (the millimeters of mercury that the exerted pressure would support), the pubococcygeus...
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