Perineum

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Peritoneum.

Perineum

The muscles of the male perineum

The muscles of the female perineum

Details
 Pronunciation /ˌpɛrɪˈniːəm/;[1]

System Musculoskeletal system

Artery Perineal artery, dorsal artery of the penis and deep

artery of the penis

Nerve Perineal nerve, posterior scrotal nerves, dorsal nerve

of the penis or dorsal nerve of clitoris

Lymph Primarily superficial inguinal lymph nodes

Identifiers

Latin Perineum, perinaeum

MeSH D010502

TA98 A09.5.00.001

TA2 131

FMA 9579

Anatomical terminology

[edit on Wikidata]

The perineum in humans is the space between the anus and scrotum in the male, or

between the anus and the vulva in the female.[2] The perineum is the region of the body
between the pubic symphysis (pubic arch) and the coccyx (tail bone), including the
perineal body and surrounding structures. There is some variability in how the
boundaries are defined.[3] The perineal raphe is visible and pronounced to varying
degrees. The perineum is an erogenous zone.[4]
The word entered English from late Latin via Greek περίναιος ~ περίνεος perinaios,
perineos, itself from περίνεος, περίνεοι 'male genitals' and earlier περίς perís 'penis'
through influence from πηρίς pērís 'scrotum'. The term was originally understood as a
purely male body-part with the perineal raphe seen as a continuation of the scrotal
septum since masculinization causes the development of a large anogenital distance in
men, in comparison to the corresponding lack of distance in women. [5] As a result of folk
etymologies (such as ἰνάω ináō, "to carry off by evacuations"), it is contemporaneously
extended to both sexes.

Structure[edit]
The perineum is generally defined as the surface region between the pubic
symphysis and the coccyx. The perineum is below the pelvic diaphragm and between
the legs. It is a diamond-shaped area that includes the anus and, in females, the vagina.
[6]
 Its definition varies: it can refer to only the superficial structures in this region, or it can
be used to include both superficial and deep structures. The perineum corresponds to
the outlet of the pelvis.