Deep perineal pouch explained

Deep perineal pouch
Latin:	saccus profundus perinei or spatium perinei profundum
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 the anatomic 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 the pelvic diaphragm.^[2]

Contents

The deep perineal pouch contains:

• muscles
  • Deep transverse perineal muscles
  • External sphincter muscle of male urethra
  • External sphincter muscle of female urethra
  • Compressor urethrae muscle in the female is sometimes included^[3]
  • Urethrovaginal sphincter in the female is sometimes included
• other
  • Membranous urethra in the male; proximal portion of urethra in the female
  • Bulbourethral gland (males). The Bartholin gland, the female counterpart, is in the superficial perineal pouch
  • Vagina (females)

Urogenital diaphragm

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

See also

• Superficial perineal pouch
• Urogenital diaphragm
• Pelvic floor
• Perineum

External links

•  – "The Female Perineum: The Perineal Nerve"
•  – "The Female Perineum – The Deep Perineal Pouch"
•  – "The urinary bladder and the urethra as seen in a frontal section of the female pelvis."
•  – "The Male Pelvis: The Prostate Gland"
• • http://www.instantanatomy.net/abdomen/areas/perineum/mdeepperinealpouch.html

Notes and 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. Essential Clinical Anatomy – 4th Edition. p.255