The pudendal canal (also called Alcock's canal) is an anatomical structure formed by the obturator fascia (fascia of the obturator internus muscle) lining the lateral wall of the ischioanal fossa. The internal pudendal artery and veins, and pudendal nerve pass through the pudendal canal, and the perineal nerve arises within it.[1]

Pudendal canal
Coronal section of pelvis, showing arrangement of fasciæ. Viewed from behind. (Alcock's canal labelled at bottom right.)
Pudendal nerve and its course through the pudendal canal (labelled in yellow)
Details
Identifiers
Latincanalis pudendalis
TA98A09.5.04.003
TA22436
FMA22071
Anatomical terminology

Clinical significance

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Pudendal nerve entrapment can occur when the pudendal nerve is compressed while it passes through the pudendal canal.[2]

History

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The pudendal canal is also known as Alcock's canal, named after Benjamin Alcock.[3]

Additional images

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See also

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References

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  This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 421 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ "canalis pudendalis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. ^ Chiarioni, Giuseppe; Popa, Stefan-Lucian (2020-01-01), Rao, Satish S. C.; Lee, Yeong Yeh; Ghoshal, Uday C. (eds.), "Chapter 36 - Anorectal pain", Clinical and Basic Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Academic Press, pp. 505–515, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-813037-7.00036-4, ISBN 978-0-12-813037-7, retrieved 2021-02-08
  3. ^ Standring, Susan (2016). Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice (Forty-first ed.). [Philadelphia]. p. 87. ISBN 9780702052309.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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