Ischiocavernosus muscle

Ischiocavernosus muscle
Muscles of the female perineum (ischiocavernosus visible at upper right)
Muscles of male perineum (ischiocavernosus visible at upper left)
Details
Origin	Ischial Tuberosity
Insertion	Crus of penis
Artery	Perineal artery
Nerve	Pudendal nerve
Actions	Assists the bulbospongiosus muscle (in males, empties the urethra; in females, clenches the vagina)
Identifiers
Latin	musculus ischiocavernosus
TA	A09.5.02.004
FMA	19730
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata]

The ischiocavernosus muscle is a muscle just below the surface of the perineum, present in both men and women.^[1]

Structure

It arises by tendinous and fleshy fibers from the inner surface of the tuberosity of the ischium, behind the crus penis; and from the rami of the pubis and ischium on either side of the crus.

From these points fleshy fibers succeed, and end in an aponeurosis which is inserted into the sides and under surface of the crus penis.

Function

It helps flex the anus, and (in males) stabilize the erect penis or (in females) tense the vagina during orgasm. Kegel exercises (also known as pelvic floor exercises) can help tone the ischiocavernosus muscle.

Ischiocavernosus compresses the crus penis, and retards the return of the blood through the veins, and thus serves to maintain the organ erect.

Additional images

• 
  Right hip bone. Internal surface.
• 
  Coronal section of anterior part of pelvis, through the pubic arch. Seen from in front.
• 
  The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. Maclean, Allan; Reid, Wendy (2011). "40". In Shaw, Robert. Gynaecology. Edinburgh New York: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. pp. 599–612. ISBN 978-0-7020-3120-5; Access provided by the University of Pittsburgh

External links

• -194314163 at GPnotebook
• Anatomy photo:41:11-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Perineum: Muscles of the Superficial Perineal Pouch"
• Anatomy figure: 41:05-01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Muscles of the female superficial perineal pouch."
• Anatomy figure: 42:04-01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Muscles of the male superficial perineal pouch. "