Superficial transverse perineal supports the perineal body and stabilizes the pelvic floor.
The superficial transverse perineal muscle is a slender, bilateral muscle found in the superficial perineal pouch of the urogenital triangle. It plays a key role in stabilizing the central point of the perineum, known as the perineal body, and contributes to the structural support of pelvic organs. Though small and often overlooked, it is essential for maintaining the integrity of the perineal region, particularly during increased intra-abdominal pressure or childbirth.
This muscle is flat, strap-like, and composed of skeletal muscle fibers. It runs transversely from the ischial tuberosity toward the midline perineal body. It is paired, with one muscle on each side, converging at the central tendon of the perineum.
The superficial transverse perineal muscle lies horizontally in the urogenital triangle. It is more posterior than the bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles, and it helps demarcate the boundary between the superficial urogenital and anal triangles.
Direction | Adjacent Structures |
---|---|
Medial | Perineal body |
Lateral | Ischial tuberosity |
Anterior | Bulbospongiosus muscle |
Posterior | External anal sphincter and anal triangle |