The membranous layer of the superficial fascia of the perineum (Colles' fascia) is the deeper layer ( membranous layer) 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 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 ...

, 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 de ...

and subcutaneous fat from the superficial perineal pouch.

Relations

''In front'', it is continuous with the

dartos fascia The dartos fascia or simply dartos is a layer of connective tissue found in the penile shaft, foreskin, scrotum and labia. The penile portion is referred to as the superficial fascia of penis or the subcutaneous tissue of penis, while the scrotal ...

of the penis and Scarpa's fascia upon the

anterior wall of the abdomen In anatomy, the abdominal wall represents the boundaries of the abdominal cavity. The abdominal wall is split into the anterolateral and posterior walls. There is a common set of layers covering and forming all the walls: the deepest being the vi ...

; ''On either side'' it is firmly attached to the margins of the

rami of the pubis and ischium The ischiopubic ramus is a compound structure consisting of the following two structures: * from the pubis, the inferior pubic ramus * from the ischium, the inferior ramus of the ischium It forms the inferior border of the obturator foramen and ...

, lateral to the crus penis and as far back as the tuberosity of the ischium. ''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 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 {{muscle-stub