ABDOMEN 



lies upon the side of the vagina close to its orifice. To obtain a good view 

 of these muscles the superficial fascia of the labia should be dissected 

 away. 



In cleaning the muscles the dissector should look for the small nerve 

 twigs which are given to each by the perineal division of the internal 

 pudendal nerve. 



Superficial Perineal Muscles. The tramversus perinei super- 

 firialis has the same disposition as in the male, but it is rare 

 to find it so well marked in the female. In most subjects its 



I schio-cavernosus 



Sphincter vaginae 

 Ischio-cavernosus 



Transversus perinei 

 superficiales 



Levator ani 



Glutaeus maxima 



Sphincter ani externus 

 FIG. 139. Muscles of the Female Perineum (Peter Thompson). 



fibres are pale, and it is generally very difficult to define. It 

 is a slender fasciculus which takes origin from the medial 

 surface of the ramus of the ischium, close to the tuberosity, 

 and passes obliquely forwards and medially to its insertion 

 into the central point of the perineum. 



In the female the central point of the perineum is placed 

 behind the vaginal orifice. 



The ischio-cavernosus is much smaller than the correspond- 

 ing muscle in the male. It arises from the medial aspect of 

 the ischial tuberosity, and is inserted by a tendinous expansion 

 on the surface of the crus clitoridis. 



