Ischiocavernosus muscle

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 Ischial Tuberosity
Insertion    Crus of Penis
Artery Perineal artery
Nerve pudendal nerve
Actions assists the bulbospongiosus muscle

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

Contents

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.

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.

Additional images

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 As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.