Ischioanal fossa

Ischioanal fossa
The perineum. The integument and superficial layer of superficial fascia reflected. (Ischiorectal fossa labeled at bottom left.)
The posterior aspect of the rectum exposed by removing the lower part of the sacrum and the coccyx. (Ischiorectal fossa labeled at bottom right.)
Latin	fossa ischioanalis
Gray's	subject #120 425

The ischioanal fossa (formerly called ischiorectal fossa) is somewhat prismatic in shape, with its base directed to the surface of the perineum, and its apex at the line of meeting of the obturator and anal fasciae.

Boundaries

It has the following boundaries:

	ANTERIOR * fascia of Colles covering the Transversus perinei superficialis * inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm
LATERAL * tuberosity of the ischium * Obturator internus muscle * obturator fascia	SUPERIOR: * Levator ani INFERIOR: * skin	MEDIAL: * Levator ani * Sphincter ani externus muscle * anal fascia
	POSTERIOR * Gluteus maximus * sacrotuberous ligament

Contents

The contents include:

• Inside Alcock's canal, on the lateral wall
  • internal pudendal artery
  • internal pudendal vein
  • pudendal nerve
• Outside Alcock's canal, crossing the space transversely
  • inferior rectal artery
  • inferior rectal veins
  • inferior anal nerves
  • fatty tissue across which numerous fibrous bands extend from side to side

See also

• Anal triangle

Additional images

• 

  Coronal section of anterior part of pelvis, through the pubic arch. Seen from in front.

• 

  The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery.

External links

• SUNY Cross Section apmalefrontal4-8
• SUNY Labs 41:04-0103 - "The Female Perineum: The Ischioanal Fossa"
• SUNY Anatomy Image 9246
• Cross section at UV pelvis/pelvis-e12-15
• perineum at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (analtriangle2, femaleugtrianglesectionfascia)
• Diagram at Emory University

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.