The membranous layer of the superficial fascia of the perineum (Colles' fascia) is the deeper layer (
membranous layer
The membranous layer or stratum membranosum is the deepest layer of subcutaneous tissue. It is a fusion of fibres into a homogeneous layer below the adipose tissue, for example, superficial to muscular fascias.
It is considered a fascia by some s ...
) of the
superficial perineal fascia. It is thin,
aponeurotic
An aponeurosis (; plural: ''aponeuroses'') is a type or a variant of the deep fascia, in the form of a sheet of pearly-white fibrous tissue that attaches sheet-like muscles needing a wide area of attachment. Their primary function is to join muscl ...
in structure, and of considerable strength, serving to bind down the muscles of the
root of the penis. Colles' fascia emerges from the
perineal membrane, which divides the base of the penis from the prostate. Colles' fascia emerges from the inferior side of the perineal membrane and continues along the ventral (inferior) penis without covering the
scrotum
The scrotum or scrotal sac is an anatomical male reproductive structure located at the base of the penis that consists of a suspended dual-chambered sac of skin and smooth muscle. It is present in most terrestrial male mammals. The scrotum co ...
. It separates the
skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...
and subcutaneous fat from the
superficial perineal pouch.
Relations
''In front'', it is continuous with the
dartos fascia of the penis and
Scarpa's fascia upon the
anterior wall of the abdomen;
''On either side'' it is firmly attached to the margins of the
rami of the pubis and ischium, lateral to the
crus penis
For their anterior three-fourths the corpora cavernosa penis lie in intimate apposition with one another, but behind they diverge in the form of two tapering processes, known as the crura, which are firmly connected to the ischial rami.
Traced ...
and as far back as the
tuberosity of the .
''Posteriorly'', it curves around the
superficial transverse perineal muscle
The transverse perineal muscles (transversus perinei) are the superficial and the deep transverse perineal muscles.
Superficial transverse perineal ...
to join the lower margin of the
inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
The perineal membrane is an anatomical term for a fibrous membrane in the perineum. The term "inferior fascia of urogenital diaphragm", used in older texts, is considered equivalent to the perineal membrane.
It is the superior border of the su ...
.
''In the middle line'', it is connected with the
superficial fascia
A fascia (; plural fasciae or fascias; adjective fascial; from Latin: "band") is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches to, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organ ...
and with the median septum of the
bulbospongiosus muscle
The bulbospongiosus muscle (bulbocavernosus in older texts) is one of the superficial muscles of the perineum. It has a slightly different origin, insertion and function in males and females. In males, it covers the bulb of the penis. In fema ...
.
This fascia not only covers the muscles in this region, but at its back part sends upward a vertical septum from its deep surface, which separates the posterior portion of the subjacent space into two.
Additional images
Image:Gray542.png, The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery.
References
External links
*
* (, )
* - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: Layers of the Superficial Fascia"
Fascia
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