The posterior scrotal branches (in men) or posterior labial branches (in women) are two in number, medial and lateral. They are branches of the
perineal nerve
The perineal nerve is a nerve of the pelvis. It arises from the pudendal nerve in the pudendal canal. It gives superficial branches to the skin, and a deep branch to muscles. It supplies the skin and muscles of the perineum. Its latency is t ...
, which is itself a branch of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve arises from spinal roots S2 through S4, travels through the pudendal canal on the fascia of the obturator internus muscle, and gives off the perineal nerve in the perineum. The major branch of the perineal nerve is the posterior scrotal/posterior labial.
They pierce the fascia of the
urogenital diaphragm
Older texts have asserted the existence of a urogenital diaphragm, also called the triangular ligament, which was described as a layer of the pelvis that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, lying between the inferior fascia of ...
, and run forward along the lateral part of the
urethral triangle in company with the
posterior scrotal branches of the
perineal artery
The perineal artery (superficial perineal artery) arises from the internal pudendal artery, and turns upward, crossing either over or under the superficial transverse perineal muscle, and runs forward, parallel to the pubic arch, in the interspa ...
; they are distributed to the skin of 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 ...
or labia and communicate with the
perineal branch of the
posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh (also called the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve) is a sensory nerve in the thigh. It supplies the skin of the posterior surface of the thigh, leg, buttock, and also the perineum.
Structure
The pos ...
.
See also
*
Anterior scrotal nerves
*
Anterior labial nerves
The anterior labial nerves are branches of the ilioinguinal nerve. The nerves innervate the mons pubis and labium majus in females. The equivalent nerves in the male are the anterior scrotal nerves.
See also
* Posterior labial nerves
The poster ...
References
External links
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Nerves of the lower limb and lower torso
Scrotum
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