Deep perineal pouch

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.

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.)
Details
Artery	branches of internal pudendal artery
Vein	branches of internal pudendal veins
Nerve	branches of perineal nerve
Identifiers
Latin	saccus profundus perinei or spatium perinei profundum
TA98	A09.5.03.001
TA2	2419
FMA	22061
Anatomical terminology

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[3]
• 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.

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

External links

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