Quick Facts
Origin: Internal pudendal artery.
Course: Pierces the perineal membrane.
Branches: Transverse perineal artery, posterior scrotal artery and artery of bulb of penis (males) or posterior labial artery and artery of vestibule (females).
Supplied Structures: Perineum and skin of external genitalia.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The perineal artery originates in the distal anterior portion of the pudendal canal as a branch of the internal pudendal artery.
Course
After branching from the internal pudendal artery, the perineal artery travels anteriorly in the deep perineal pouch. It pierces the perineal membrane to enter the superficial perineal pouch. Here it runs between the bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles.
Branches
The perineal artery sometimes gives off a small transverse perineal artery. In males, the artery terminates into the posterior scrotal arteries and the artery of the bulb of the penis. In females, the artery terminates as the posterior labial arteries.
Supplied Structures
The perineal artery supplies the perineum and skin of the external genitalia.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Artery
When the artery is occluded blood is forced through the collateral vessels, drastically increasing fluid shear stress and triggering an inflammatory response which drives vessel remodeling.
