Perineal artery

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 21 Sep 2021

The perineal artery arises from the internal pudendal artery and supplies some of the perineal musculature and external genitalia.

Summary

  • Origin: branches off the internal pudendal artery, arising at the level of the posterior angle of the perineal membrane
  • Branches: it has two branches:
    • a transverse perineal branch
    • a terminal posterior scrotal (male) or labial (female) artery 1 
  • Course: pierces the perineal membrane at its origin, traveling in the superficial perineal pouch to reach the scrotum or labia
  • Anastomosis: the transverse perineal branch anastomoses with the inferior rectal arteries, posterior scrotal artery and the contralateral transverse perineal artery 2
  • Supply
    • Perineal artery:​ bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles
    • ​Transverse perineal branch: transverse perinei superficialis muscles, perineal body and the posterior bulb of the penis
    • Posterior scrotal artery: posterior scrotal skin and dartos muscle
    • Posterior labial artery: skin of labia majora and labia minora 2,3

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