Genitourinary diaphragm

The genitourinary diaphragm , diaphragma urogenitale, like the pelvic, is a fascial-muscular plate located in the anterior part of the pelvic floor, between the lower branches of the pubic and the branches of the sciatic bones. The composition of this plate includes the upper fascia of the genitourinary diaphragm, fascia diaphragmatis urogenitalis superior from the upper surface, the lower fascia of the genitourinary diaphragm (perineal membrane), fascia diaphragmatis urogenitalis inferior (membrana perinei); Both are attached to each side to the lower branch of the pubic and to the branch of the ischium bones.

In front of the urethra, the anterior margin of the diaphragm does not reach the pubic symphysis, but forms a tight and strongly stretched transverse crotch of the perineum, lig. Transversum perinei.

The free space between the pubic symphysis, the arcuate ligament of the pubis and the transverse crotch of the perineum serves as the passage site of v. Dorsalis penis profunda or v. Dorsalis clitoridis profunda. Both fascia also fuse along the posterior margin of the urogenital diaphragm, forming its posterior border.

The upper fascia in men is fused with the prostate fascia, fascia prostatae. Both fascia are fused with the walls of the urethra, and in women - with the wall of the vagina.

Between the upper and lower fascia of the urogenital diaphragm is the deep space of the perineum, spatium perinei profundum, in which two muscles are laid: the anterior sphincter of the urethra, m. Sphincter urethrae, and posterior - deep perineal transverse muscle, m. Transversus perinei profundus.

In the deep space of the perineum in the thickness of the muscle are bulbourethral glands, glandulae bulbourethrales, in men and large glands of the vestibule, glandulae vestibulares majores, in women.

The muscles of the urogenital area are the muscles of the genitourinary diaphragm and the external genital organs.