The pudendal canal (also called Alcock's canal) is an anatomical structure formed by the
obturator fascia
The obturator fascia, or fascia of the internal obturator muscle, covers the pelvic surface of that muscle and is attached around the margin of its origin.
Above, it is loosely connected to the back part of the arcuate line, and here it is conti ...
(fascia of the
obturator internus muscle
The internal obturator muscle or obturator internus muscle originates on the medial surface of the obturator membrane, the ischium near the membrane, and the rim of the pubis.
It exits the pelvic cavity through the lesser sciatic foramen.
The ...
) lining the lateral wall of the
ischioanal fossa
The ischioanal fossa (formerly called ischiorectal fossa) is the fat-filled wedge-shaped space located lateral to the anal canal and inferior to the pelvic diaphragm. It is somewhat prismatic in shape, with its base directed to the surface of the ...
. The
internal pudendal artery
The internal pudendal artery is one of the three pudendal arteries. It branches off the internal iliac artery, and provides blood to the external genitalia.
Structure
The internal pudendal artery is the terminal branch of the anterior trunk ...
and
veins
Veins () are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and fetal c ...
, and
pudendal nerve
The pudendal nerve is the main nerve of the perineum. It is a Mixed nerve, mixed (motor and sensory) nerve and also conveys Sympathetic nervous system, sympathetic Autonomic nervous system, autonomic fibers. It carries sensation from the exter ...
pass through the pudendal canal, and 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 tes ...
arises within it.
Clinical significance
Pudendal nerve entrapment
Pudendal nerve entrapment is an uncommon, chronic pelvic pain condition in which the pudendal nerve (located in the pelvis) is entrapped and compressed. There are several different anatomic locations of potential entrapment (see Anatomy). Pudendal ...
can occur when the
pudendal nerve
The pudendal nerve is the main nerve of the perineum. It is a Mixed nerve, mixed (motor and sensory) nerve and also conveys Sympathetic nervous system, sympathetic Autonomic nervous system, autonomic fibers. It carries sensation from the exter ...
is
compressed while it passes through the pudendal canal.
History
The pudendal canal is also known as Alcock's canal, named after
Benjamin Alcock
Benjamin Alcock (1801 – 1865) was an Irish anatomist. He is remembered for his description of the pudendal nerve sheath, which came to be known as Alcock's canal, later more usually called the pudendal canal, and an associated disease, Alcock ...
.
Additional images
Image:Gray542.png , The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery. (Canal not labeled, but pudendal nerve and internal pudendal artery labeled at bottom right.)
See also
*
Femoral canal
The femoral canal is the medial (and smallest) compartment of the three compartments of the femoral sheath. It is conical in shape. The femoral canal contains lymphatic vessels, and Adipose tissue, adipose and loose connective tissue, as well as - ...
*
Inguinal canal
The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall on each side of the body (one on each side of the midline), which in males, convey the spermatic cords and in females, the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are lar ...
*
Pudendal nerve
The pudendal nerve is the main nerve of the perineum. It is a Mixed nerve, mixed (motor and sensory) nerve and also conveys Sympathetic nervous system, sympathetic Autonomic nervous system, autonomic fibers. It carries sensation from the exter ...
*
Obturator internus muscle
The internal obturator muscle or obturator internus muscle originates on the medial surface of the obturator membrane, the ischium near the membrane, and the rim of the pubis.
It exits the pelvic cavity through the lesser sciatic foramen.
The ...
References
External links
*
*
* — "The Female Perineum: Contents of the Pudendal Canal"
Diagram at pudendal.info*
*
Perineum
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