Urogenital diaphragm
Encyclopedia
Older texts have asserted the existence of an urogenital diaphragm, also called the triangular ligament, which was described as a layer of the pelvis
that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, lying between the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm (perineal membrane) and superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
.
While this term is used to refer to a layer of the pelvis that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, such a discrete border of the sac probably does not exist.
While it has no official entry in Terminologia Anatomica
, the term is still used occasionally to describe the muscular components of the deep perineal pouch. The urethra and the vagina, though part of the pouch, are usually said to be passing through the urogenital diaphragm, rather than part of the diaphragm itself.
Some researchers still assert that such a diaphragm exists, and the term is still used in the literature.
The term "urogenital diaphragm" is often confused with the pelvic floor
, which is a true diaphragm supporting many of the pelvic organs.
Pelvis
In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:...
that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, lying between the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm (perineal membrane) and superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
Superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
The superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm is continuous with the obturator fascia and stretches across the pubic arch.If the obturator fascia be traced medially after leaving the Obturator internus muscle, it will be found attached by some of its deeper or anterior fibers to the inner margin...
.
While this term is used to refer to a layer of the pelvis that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, such a discrete border of the sac probably does not exist.
While it has no official entry in Terminologia Anatomica
Terminologia Anatomica
Terminologia Anatomica is the international standard on human anatomic terminology. It was developed by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists and was released in 1998. It supersedes the previous standard, Nomina...
, the term is still used occasionally to describe the muscular components of the deep perineal pouch. The urethra and the vagina, though part of the pouch, are usually said to be passing through the urogenital diaphragm, rather than part of the diaphragm itself.
Some researchers still assert that such a diaphragm exists, and the term is still used in the literature.
The term "urogenital diaphragm" is often confused with the pelvic floor
Pelvic floor
The pelvic floor or pelvic diaphragm is composed of muscle fibers of the levator ani, the coccygeus, and associated connective tissue which span the area underneath the pelvis. The pelvic diaphragm is a muscular partition formed by the levatores ani and coccygei, with which may be included the...
, which is a true diaphragm supporting many of the pelvic organs.