Perineum

Perineum
The muscles of the female perineum
The muscles of the male perineum
Details
System	Musculoskeletal system
Artery	Perineal artery, dorsal artery of the penis and deep artery of the penis
Nerve	Perineal nerve, posterior scrotal nerves, dorsal nerve of the penis or dorsal nerve of clitoris
Lymph	Primarily superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Identifiers
Latin	Perineum, perinaeum
TA	A09.5.00.001
FMA	9579
Anatomical terminology []

In human anatomy, the perineum (/pɛrᵻˈniːəm/; Late Latin, from Greek περίνεος – perineos) is the region of the body between the pubic symphysis (pubic arch) and the coccyx (tail bone), including the perineal /pɛrəˈniːəl/ body and surrounding structures. There is some variability in how the boundaries are defined. The perianal area ( + anal) is a subset of the perineal area.

The perineum is an erogenous zone for both males and females.Perineal tears and episiotomy often occur in childbirth with first-time deliveries, but the risk of these injuries can be reduced by preparing the perineum, often through massage.

The perineum is generally defined as the surface region in both males and females between the pubic symphysis and the coccyx. The perineum is below the pelvic diaphragm and between the legs. It is a diamond-shaped area that includes the anus and, in females, the vagina. Its definition varies: it can refer to only the superficial structures in this region, or it can be used to include both superficial and deep structures. The perineum corresponds to the outlet of the pelvis.