Rectoprostatic fascia
Encyclopedia
The rectoprostatic fascia is a membranous partition at the lowest part of the rectovesical pouch
. It separates the prostate
and urinary bladder
from the rectum
. It consists of a single fibromuscular structure with several layers that are fused together and covering the seminal vesicle
s. It is also called Denonvilliers' fascia after French anatomist and surgeon Charles-Pierre Denonvilliers
.
The structure corresponds to the rectovaginal fascia
in the female. In post-operative transsexual women, the vaginal cavity is created along it. The retroprostatic fascia also inhibits the posterior spread of prostatic adenocarcinoma; therefore invasion of the rectum is less common than is invasion of other contiguous structures.
Rectovesical excavation
Between the rectum and the bladder the peritoneal cavity forms, in the male, a pouch, the rectovesical excavation , the bottom of which is slightly below the level of the upper ends of the vesiculae seminales—i. e., about 7.5 cm. from the orifice of the anus...
. It separates the prostate
Prostate
The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals....
and urinary bladder
Urinary bladder
The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
from the rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
. It consists of a single fibromuscular structure with several layers that are fused together and covering the seminal vesicle
Seminal vesicle
The seminal vesicles or vesicular glands are a pair of simple tubular glands posteroinferior to the urinary bladder of male mammals...
s. It is also called Denonvilliers' fascia after French anatomist and surgeon Charles-Pierre Denonvilliers
Charles-Pierre Denonvilliers
Charles-Pierre Denonvilliers was a French surgeon who was a native of Paris. In 1837 he received his medical doctorate, and later was a professor of surgery and anatomy in Paris....
.
The structure corresponds to the rectovaginal fascia
Rectovaginal fascia
The rectovaginal fascia is a thin structure separating the vagina and the rectum. This corresponds to the rectoprostatic fascia in the male.-External links:...
in the female. In post-operative transsexual women, the vaginal cavity is created along it. The retroprostatic fascia also inhibits the posterior spread of prostatic adenocarcinoma; therefore invasion of the rectum is less common than is invasion of other contiguous structures.