| Perineal nerve | |
|---|---|
 Pudendal nerve, its course through the lesser sciatic foramen, and branches, including inferior anal at bottom right. | |
 The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery. (Perineal nerve visible but not labeled.) | |
| Details | |
| From | Pudendal nerve |
| Innervates | Perineum,scrotum orlabia majora,superficial transverse perineal muscle,bulbospongiosus muscle,ischiocavernosus muscle,bulb of penis,levator ani,external anal sphincter |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervi perineales |
| TA98 | A14.2.07.039 |
| TA2 | 6556 |
| FMA | 21866 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
Theperineal nerve is anerve of the pelvis. It arises from thepudendal nerve in thepudendal canal. It gives superficial branches to theskin, and adeep branch tomuscles. It supplies the skin and muscles of theperineum. Its latency is tested withelectrodes.
The perineal nerve is a branch of thepudendal nerve.[1][2] It lies below theinternal pudendal artery. It accompanies theperineal artery. It passes through the pudendal canal for around 2 or 3 cm.[1][2] Whilst still in the canal, it divides into superficial branches and a deep branch.[1] The superficial branches of the perineal nerve become theposterior scrotal nerves in men,[3] and theposterior labial nerves in women.[1] Thedeep branch of the perineal nerve (also known as the "muscular" branch) travels to the muscles of the perineum.[1] Both of these are superficial to thedorsal nerve of the penis or thedorsal nerve of the clitoris.[4]
The perineal nerve supplies the skin and muscles of theperineum.[1] The superficial branches supply sensation to the perineum, and thescrotum in men or thelabia majora in women.[1] Thedeep branch suppliessuperficial transverse perineal muscle, thebulbospongiosus muscle, theischiocavernosus muscle, thebulb of penis,levator ani, and theexternal anal sphincter.[1]
The latency of the perineal nerve can be measured withelectrodes.[5] It is used to test nerve function.[5]
This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 968 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
