THE TRIANGULAR LIGAMENT IN MALE AND IN FEMALE 447 



Nerve-supply. The perineal branch of the internal pudic. 



Actions. It compresses the crus clitoridis and retards the return of blood through the veins, 

 and thus serves to maintain the organ erect. 



The Triangular Ligament in the Male and in the Female. 



The triangular ligament or the deep perineal fascia (diaphragma urogenilale) 

 (Figs. 339 and 340) is stretched almost horizontally across the pubic arch, so as 

 to close in the front part of the outlet of the pelvis. It consists of two dense 

 musculomembranous laminae, which are united along their dorsal borders, but 

 are separated ventrally by intervening structures. The superficial layer (fascia 

 diaphragmatis urogenitalis inferior} is triangular in shape and about an inch and 

 a half in depth. Its apex is directed forward, and is separated from the subpubic 



SUPERFICIAL FASCIA 

 OF ABDOMEN 



(Scarpa's fascia) 



AREOLO-FATTY 

 TISSUE CON- 

 TAINING VEINS 



PENILE FASCIA 



INTERNAL 

 SPHINC- 

 TER ANI 

 COM- 

 PRESSOR 

 URETHR/C 



EXTERNAL 

 SPHINC- 

 TER ANI 



DEEP LAYER OF 



SUPERFICIAL FASCIA 



OF PERINEUM 



(Colles' fascia) 



BULBO-CAVER- 

 NOSUS MUSCLE 



DARTOS 



FIG. 339. The triangular ligament of the perineum. 



ligament by an oval opening for the transmission of the dorsal vein of the penis. 

 A strengthening band, the transverse pelvic ligament (ligamentum transversum 

 pelvis], passes from one pubic bone to the other below the vein. The lateral margins 

 of the inferior layer of the triangular ligament are attached on each side to the 

 rami of the ischium and os pubis, above the crura penis. The fusion of the two 

 leaves of the triangular ligament takes place under cover of the Superficial trans- 



