Subdivision

Abstract

The anatomy of both the male and female pelvis and perineum shows a lack of conceptual clarity. These regions are best understood when they are clearly described and subdivided according to functional and clinical requirements: The actual clinical subdivision discerns an anterior, a middle, and a posterior compartment. Whereas an anterior and posterior compartment may be found in the male as well as in the female, a middle compartment can only be found in the latter. The term “compartment” is routinely used by radiologists and all surgeons operating on the pelvic floor. This term is not identical with the term “space.” According to former literature, a lot of spaces are supposed to be arranged in the region of the pelvic floor: retrorectal, pararectal, rectoprostatic, rectovaginal, retropubic, paravesical, etc. (Lierse 1984; Pernkopf 1941; Waldeyer 1899). From the point of view of the surgeon, “spaces” are empty (Richter and Frick 1985). They are only filled with loose connective tissue and neither contain large vessels nor nerves. Some years ago, we proposed to drop the term “space” and to speak of compartments instead, taking into account that a compartment may be filled by different tissue components (Fritsch 1994).