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 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 super ...
, 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
In most terrestrial mammals, the scrotum (: scrotums or scrota; possibly from Latin ''scortum'', meaning "hide" or "skin") or scrotal sac is a part of the external male genitalia located at the base of the penis. It consists of a sac of skin ...
. 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
The superficial perineal pouch (also superficial perineal compartment/space/sac) is a compartment of the perineum.
Structure
The superficial perineal pouch is an open compartment, due to the fact that anteriorly, the space communicates freely wi ...
.
Relations
''In front'', it is continuous with the
dartos fascia
The dartos fascia, dartos tunic or simply dartos is a layer of connective tissue found in the penile shaft, foreskin and scrotum. The penile portion is referred to as the superficial fascia of penis or the subcutaneous tissue of penis, while the ...
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 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.
''In the middle line'', it is connected with the
superficial fascia and with the median septum of the
bulbospongiosus muscle
The bulbospongiosus muscles (in older texts bulbocavernosus and, for female muscle, constrictor cunni) are a subgroup of the superficial muscles of the perineum. They have a slightly different origin, insertion and function in males and females. ...
.
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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