Libelle of note

The subcutaneous perineal pouch is a potential space between the membranous layer of perineal subcutaneous tissue and the superficial layer of the investing fascia of perineal muscles. Extravasations or collections in the subcutaneous pouch may track, deep to the membranous layer of subcutaneous tissue, into the anterior abdominal wall, along the clitoris/penis and far into the labia or scrotum.

The superficial perineal pouch is a fully enclosed compartment, being bounded below by the perineal fascia (the superficial layer of the investing fascia of the superficial perineal muscles) and above the perineal membrane.

The deep perineal pouch on the other hand, is not an enclosed compartment but is open to above. This and the deep urogenital muscles are bounded below by the perineal membrane but extend up into the pelvis rendering the old term diaphragma urogenitalis and fascia diaphragmatis urogenitalis inferior misnomers (Oelrich 1980 Am J Anat 158:229-264; 1983 Anat Rec 205:223-232).