Ischiocavernosus muscle

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Ischiocavernosus muscle
Muscles of the female perineum. (Ischiocavernosus visible at upper right.)
Muscles of male perineum. (Ischiocavernosus visible at upper left.)
Latin musculus ischiocavernosus
Gray's subject #120 428
Origin
Insertion   
Artery: Perineal artery
Nerve: pudendal nerve
Action: assists the bulbospongiosus muscle
Dorlands
/Elsevier
m_22/12549534

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

Contents

[edit] Function

It helps flex the anus, and (in males) stabilize the erect penis or (in females) tense the vagina. 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.

[edit] Fibers

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.

[edit] Additional images

[edit] External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

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