perineum
[ per-uh-nee-uh m ]
/ ˌpɛr əˈni əm /
noun, plural per·i·ne·a [per-uh-nee-uh] /ˌpɛr əˈni ə/. Anatomy.
the area in front of the anus extending to the fourchette of the vulva in the female and to the scrotum in the male.
the diamond-shaped area corresponding to the outlet of the pelvis, containing the anus and vulva or the roots of the penis.
Origin of perineum
1625–35; < New Latin < Greek
períneon, períneos, perínaios, apparently equivalent to
per(i)-
peri- +
ine-, ina-, stems of
ineîn, inân to evacuate, empty + -(
i)os, -(
i)on noun suffix
OTHER WORDS FROM perineum
per·i·ne·al, adjectiveWords nearby perineum
British Dictionary definitions for perinea
perineum
/ (ˌpɛrɪˈniːəm) /
noun plural -nea (-ˈniːə)
the region of the body between the anus and the genital organs, including some of the underlying structures
the nearly diamond-shaped surface of the human trunk between the thighs
Derived forms of perineum
perineal, adjectiveWord Origin for perineum
C17: from New Latin, from Greek
perinaion, from
peri- +
inein to empty out
Medical definitions for perinea
perineum
[ pĕr′ə-nē′əm ]
n. pl. per•i•ne•a (-nē′ə)
The portion of the body in the pelvis occupied by urogenital passages and the rectum, bounded in front by the pubic arch, in the back by the coccyx, and laterally by part of the hipbone.
The region between the scrotum and the anus in males, and between the posterior vulva junction and the anus in females.
Other words from perineum
per′i•ne′al (-nē′əl) adj.Scientific definitions for perinea
perineum
[ pĕr′ə-nē′əm ]
Plural perinea
The region between the scrotum and the anus in males, and between the posterior vulva and the anus in females.