The perineal raphe is a visible line or ridge of tissue on the body that extends from the
anus
The anus (Latin, 'ring' or 'circle') is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, the residual semi-solid waste that remains after food digestion, which, ...
through the
perineum
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. The perineum is the region of the body between the pubic symphysis (pubic arch) and the coccyx (tail bone), includi ...
to
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 ...
(male) or
labia majora
The labia majora (singular: ''labium majus'') are two prominent longitudinal cutaneous folds that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis to the perineum. Together with the labia minora they form the labia of the vulva.
The labia maj ...
(female). It is found in both males and females, arises from the fusion of the
urogenital folds, and is visible running medial through anteroposterior, to the anus where it resolves in a small knot of skin of varying size.
In males, this structure continues through the midline of the scrotum (scrotal raphe) and upwards through the posterior midline aspect of the
penis
A penis (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'' () is the primary sexual organ that male animals use to inseminate females (or hermaphrodites) during copulation. Such organs occur in many animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, but males d ...
(
penile raphe
The penile raphe is a visible line or ridge of tissue that runs on the ventral side of the human penis beginning from the base of the shaft and ending in the prepuce. The line is typically darker than the rest of the shaft skin, even though its s ...
). It also exists deeper through the scrotum where it is called the
scrotal septum
The septum of the scrotum is a vertical layer of fibrous tissue that divides the two compartments of the scrotum. It consists of flexible connective tissue. Its structure extends to the skin surface of the scrotum as the scrotal raphe. It is an ...
. It is the result of a
fetal
A fetus or foetus (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal develo ...
developmental phenomenon whereby the scrotum and penis close toward the midline and fuse.
See also
*
Raphe
Raphe (; from Greek ῥαφή, "seam"Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). ''A Greek-English Lexicon. revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones. with the assistance of. Roderick McKenzie.'' Oxford: Clarendon Press.) has several diffe ...
*
Linea nigra
Linea nigra (Latin for "black line"), often referred to as a pregnancy line, is a linear hyperpigmentation that commonly appears on the abdomen. The brownish streak is usually about a centimeter (0.4 in) in width. The line runs vertically al ...
*
*
Frenulum of prepuce of penis
The frenulum of prepuce of penis, often known simply as the frenulum, is a highly erogenous elastic band of tissue under the glans penis that connects the foreskin to the vernal mucosa, and helps contract the foreskin over the glans. Along with th ...
Images
File:Gray1119.png, Stages in the development of the external sexual organs in the male and female
File:Raphe1 Labels.jpg, Perineal and scrotal raphe
File:Perineal raphe in female.jpg, Perineal raphe in female
References
Scrotum
{{Genitourinary-stub