perineum
American Heritage Dictionary:
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per·i·ne·um
(pĕr'ə-nē'əm) 
n., pl., -ne·a (-nē'ə).
n., pl., -ne·a (-nē'ə).
- The portion of the body in the pelvis occupied by urogenital passages and the rectum, bounded in front by the pubic arch, in the back by the coccyx, and laterally by part of the hipbone.
- The region between the scrotum and the anus in males, and between the posterior vulva junction and the anus in females.
[Middle English, from Medieval Latin perinaeon, from Greek perinaion : peri-, peri- + inān, to excrete.]
perineal per'i·ne'al (-nē'əl) adj.
Word Overheard by Answers.com:
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perineum
Expectant mothers and other alt-clickers were interested to read early in May 2005 that:
"Routine use of episiotomy for uncomplicated vaginal births does not provide immediate or longer term benefits for the mother, according to a review of scientific evidence sponsored by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Episiotomy is the surgical cutting of the perineum -- the skin between the vaginal opening and the anus -- and is a common procedure used in an estimated one-third of vaginal deliveries to hasten birth or prevent tearing of the skin during delivery."
Link: Routine Use of Episiotomy in Uncomplicated Births Offers No Benefits to Women
Posted May 5, 2005.
See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words. 
Oxford Companion to the Body:
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perineum
The anatomical name for the ‘crotch’ region, including the anus and vulva in the female and extending from the anus to the scrotum in the male. At a deeper level, layers of muscle and connective tissue form the ‘floor’ of the pelvic cavity which is penetrated by the anal canal (from the rectum) and urethra (from the bladder), and by the vagina in the female. The bony limits of the perineum are the pubic symphysis, in front (where the two pelvic bones join), and the coccyx behind.
— Stuart Judge
See pelvis; urogenital system
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Region of the body between the muscular floor of the pelvis and the thighs, containing the anal canal and external genitalia.
Saunders Veterinary Dictionary:
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perineum
The region between the tail and the ischiatic arch, especially the region between the anus and genital organs made up of the pelvic diaphragm and associated structures occupying the pelvic outlet, bounded ventrally by the pelvic symphysis, laterally by the ischial tuberosities, and dorsally by the coccygeal vertebrae. During parturition the perineum may be torn, resulting in possible damage to the urinary meatus and anal sphincter. To avoid a perineal laceration the veterinarian may cut the perineum just before delivery and suture the incision after delivery. See also episiotomy, perineorrhaphy.
Mosby's Dental Dictionary:
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perineum
n
The part of the body situated dorsal to the pubic arch and the arcuate ligments, ventral to the tip of the coccyx, and lateral to the inferior rami of the pubis and the ischium and sacrotuberous ligaments. The perineum supports and surrounds the distal portions of the urogenital and gastrointestinal tracts of the body.
Random House Word Menu:
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categories related to 'perineum'
- Trunk - perineum: area between anus and male scrotum or edge of vulva in female
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Perineum
| Perineum | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| The muscles of the male perineum | |
| Gray's | subject #120 424 |
| Artery | perineal artery, dorsal artery of the penis, deep artery of the penis |
| Nerve | perineal nerve, posterior scrotal nerves, dorsal nerve of the penis, dorsal nerve of clitoris |
| Lymph | primarily superficial inguinal lymph nodes |
In human anatomy, the perineum (Late Latin, from Greek περίνεος - perineos[1]) is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures. There is some variability in how the boundaries are defined,[2] but the term generally includes the genitals and anus.
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Contents
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Terminology
It is generally defined as the surface region in both males and females between the pubic symphysis and the coccyx. The perineum is the region of the body inferior to the pelvic diaphragm and between the legs. It is a diamond-shaped area on the inferior surface of the trunk which includes the anus and, in females, the vagina.[3] Its definition varies: it can refer to only the superficial structures in this region, or it can be used to include both superficial and deep structures. The term lower rabbus is used colloquially in the UK to describe this structure[citation needed]. It is an erogenous zone for both males and females. Perineal tears and episiotomy often occur in childbirth with first time deliveries, but the risk of these injuries can be reduced by preparing the perineum, e.g. through massage[4].
The perineum corresponds to the outlet of the pelvis.
A wide variety of slang terms are commonly used for this area of the human body, commonly "gooch," "taint," or even "the spot where God sewed us up" but they generally refer to a smaller, less inclusive area -- just the surface skin region between the anus and the scrotum or vaginal opening.[citation needed]
The anogenital distance is a measure of the distance between the anus and the base of the penis or vagina. Studies show that the human perineum is twice as long in males as in females.[5] Measuring the anogenital distance in neonatal humans has been suggested as a noninvasive method to determine male feminisation and thereby predict neonatal and adult reproductive disorders.[6]
Boundaries
Its deep boundaries are as follows:[7]
- in front: the pubic arch and the arcuate ligament of the pubis
- behind: the tip of the coccyx
- on either side: the inferior rami of the pubis and ischial tuberosity, and the sacrotuberous ligament
Triangles
A line drawn transversely across in front of the ischial tuberosities divides the space into two triangles:
| Name | Location | Contents |
| Urogenital triangle | the anterior triangle | in females, contains the vagina |
| Anal triangle | the posterior triangle | contains the anus |
Perineal fascia
The terminology of the perineal fascia can be confusing, and there is some controversy over the nomenclature. This stems from the fact that there are two parts to the fascia, the superficial and deep parts, and each of these can be subdivided into superficial and deep parts.
The layers and contents are as follows, from superficial to deep:
- 1) Foreskin
- 2) superficial perineal fascia: Subcutaneous tissue divided into two layers: (a) A superficial fatty layer, and (b) Colles' fascia, a deeper, membranous layer.
- 3) deep perineal fascia and muscles:
| superficial perineal pouch | Contains superficial perineal muscles: transversus perinei superficialis, bulbospongiosus, ischiocavernosus |
| inferior fascia of urogenital diaphragm, or perineal membrane | A membranous layer of the deep fascia. |
| deep perineal pouch | Contains the deep perineal muscles: transversus perinei profundus, sphincter urethrae membranaceae |
| superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm | Considered hypothetical by some modern anatomists, but still commonly used to logically divide the contents of the region. |
- 4) fascia and muscles of pelvic floor (levator ani, coccygeus)
Areas of the perineum
The region of the perineum can be considered a distinct area from pelvic cavity, with the two regions separated by the pelvic diaphragm. The following areas are thus classified as parts of the perineal region:
- perineal pouches: superficial and deep (see above for details)
- Ischioanal fossa – a fat filled space at the lateral sides of anal canal. It is bounded laterally by obturator internus muscle, medially by pelvic diaphragm and anal canal. Its base is the skin.
- Anal canal
- Pudendal canal – contains internal pudendal artery and the pudendal nerve.
Gallery
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Diameters of inferior aperture of lesser pelvis (female)
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The perineum. The integument and superficial layer of superficial fascia reflected
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Muscles of the female perineum
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The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery
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The posterior aspect of the rectum exposed by removing the lower part of the sacrum and the coccyx
See also
- Deep perineal pouch
- Erogenous zone
- Intimate part
- Mula Bandha
- Pelvic floor
- Perineal tear classification
References
- ^ περίνεος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
- ^ Федеративе Коммиттее он Анатомикал Терминологий (1998). Terminologia anatomica: international anatomical terminology. Thieme. pp. 268–. ISBN 978-3-13-114361-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=UnMBKPalTeoC&pg=PA268. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ Gray, Henry. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000.
- ^ Shipman MK, Boniface DR, Tefft ME, McCloghry F (July 1997). "Antenatal perineal massage and subsequent perineal outcomes: a randomised controlled trial". British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 104 (7): 787–91. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12021.x. PMID 9236642. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12021.x/abstract. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ Validity of anogenital distance as a marker of in utero phthalate exposure. doi:10.1289/ehp.114-a19b PMID 16393642
- ^ Michelle Welsh, et al.: Identification in rats of a programming window for reproductive tract masculinization, disruption of which leads to hypospadias and cryptorchidism. J. Clin. Invest., 13 March 2008.
- ^ perineumboundaries
External links
- perineum at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
- Slang words for the perineum
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Translations:
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Perineum
Nederlands (Dutch)
gebied tussen anus en externe geslachtsdelen, perineum
Français (French)
n. - périnée
Português (Portuguese)
n. - períneo (m) (Anat.)
Español (Spanish)
n. - perineo
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - bäckenbotten
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
会阴
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 會陰
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) شرج, عجان : المنطقه بين فتحه التناسل والشرج
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - חיץ הנקביים (המרווח בין פי-הטבעת ואברי המין)
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American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Oxford Companion to the Body
The Oxford Companion to the Body. Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine
The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.
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Saunders Veterinary Dictionary
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.
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Mosby's Dental Dictionary
Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Random House Word Menu
© 2010 Write Brothers Inc. Word Menu is a registered trademark of the Estate of Stephen Glazier.
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Wikipedia on Answers.com
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Perineum.
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