Deep perineal pouch

Deep perineal pouch
Coronal section of anterior part of pelvis, through the pubic arch. Seen from in front. (Deep perineal pouch not labeled, but is between the "superior layer" and "inferior layer" labeled at bottom left.)
Vertical section of bladder, penis, and urethra. (Cowper's gland and membranous portion of urethra visible at center bottom.)
Latin	saccus profundus perinei
Gray's	subject #120 428
Artery	branches of internal pudendal artery
Vein	branches of internal pudendal veins
Nerve	branches of perineal nerve

The deep perineal pouch (also deep perineal space) is a human anatomical term that refers to the space enclosed in part by the perineum, and located superior to the perineal membrane.

Structure

The deep perineal pouch is bordered inferiorly by the perineal membrane, also known as the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm. It is bordered superiorly by the superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm. ^[1] The deep pouch is now described as the region between the perineal membrane and pelvic diaphragm. ^[2]

Contents

The deep perineal pouch contains:

• muscles
  • Deep transverse perineal muscle
  • External sphincter muscle of urethra
  • Compressor Urethrae Muscle^[3]
  • Urethrovaginal Sphincter (female)^[3]
• other
  • Membranous portion of the urethra (males) / proximal portion of urethra (females)
  • Bulbourethral gland (males). (Note: The Bartholin gland is the female counterpart to the bulbourethral gland in males, but it is located in the superficial perineal pouch.)
  • Vagina (females)

"Urogenital diaphragm"

Older texts have asserted the existence of an "urogenital diaphragm", which was described as a layer of the pelvis that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, lying between the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm and superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm.

Additional images

• 

  Male Anatomy

• 

  Median sagittal section of pelvis, showing arrangement of fasciæ.

• 

  The deeper branches of the internal pudendal artery.

See also

• Superficial perineal pouch
• Pelvic floor
• Perineum

References

1. ^ Netter, F., Atlas of Human Anatomy.4th Ed. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2006.
2. ^ Netter, F., Atlas of Human Anatomy.5th Ed. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2010.
3. ^ ^{a b} Essential Clinical Anatomy - 4th Edition. p.255

External links

• SUNY Labs 41:10-0102 - "The Female Perineum: The Perineal Nerve"
• SUNY Labs 41:13-0100 - "The Female Perineum - The Deep Perineal Pouch"
• SUNY Figs 43:04-09 - "The urinary bladder and the urethra as seen in a frontal section of the female pelvis."
• SUNY Labs 44:05-0102 - "The Male Pelvis: The Prostate Gland"
• perineum at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (maleugtriangle3)
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_35/35-1.HTM
• http://www.instantanatomy.net/abdomen/areas/perineum/mdeepperinealpouch.html