Structure/Morphology
The perineal body (perineal center, or central tendinous point of perineum) is the irregular, fibromuscular mass that provides an attachment site for many perineal muscles.
It is a central point in the perineum, where both fibrous and muscular tissues converge.
Related parts of the anatomy
Anatomical Relations
The perineal body is found along the midline, between the anal and urogenital triangles, and is located:
- anterior to the external anal sphincter;
- posterior to the bulbospongiosus muscle, the vagina in females, and the bulb of the penis in males;
- inferior to the levator ani muscle;
- medial to the superficial and deep transverse perineal muscles.
It is continuous:
- anteriorly, with the perineal membrane;
- superiorly, with the rectovaginal septum in females and the rectovesical septum in males;
- inferiorly, with the superficial perineal fascia.
Function
The perineal body provides an attachment site for the:
- external anal sphincter muscle;
- bulbospongiosus muscles;
- superficial transverse perineal muscles;
- deep transverse perineal muscles;
- levator ani muscle.
It provides structural support to the pelvic floor and adjacent pelvic and perineal structures (Sinnatamby, 2011).
List of Clinical Correlates
- Prolapse of pelvic viscera
- Fecal incontinence
References
Sinnatamby, C. S. (2011) Last's Anatomy: Regional and Applied. ClinicalKey 2012: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
