Editing Prostate (section)

== Pelvic fasciae ==

* '''Fascial layers that surround prostate (3)§:'''
*# '''Posteriorly: Denonvilliers fascia'''
*# '''Anteriorly/anterolaterally: prostatic fascia''' (also inappropriately called the capsule of the prostate; recall no true histologic capsule)
*# '''Laterally: prostatic fascia fuses with endopelvic fascia'''
** '''See Figures 1 and 2'''

** '''Denonvilliers fascia'''
*** A filmy, delicate layer of connective tissue
*** Located between the anterior wall of the rectum and prostate
**** There is a plane of loose, areolar tissue between Denonvilliers fascia and the rectum
*** Most prominent and dense near the base of the prostate and the seminal vesicles and thins dramatically as it extends caudally to its termination at the striated urethral sphincter
*** Impossible to discern posterior and anterior layers of this fascia on microscopic examination; for this reason, '''this must be excised fascia completely to obtain an adequate surgical margin'''
** '''Prostatic fascia'''
*** '''In direct continuity with the parenchyma of the prostate anteriorly and anterolaterally'''
*** '''Fuses with the levator fascia laterally to form the lateral pelvic fascia'''
** '''Endopelvic fascia'''
*** '''Also known as levator fascia,''' lateral prostatic fascia, and lateral pelvic fascia'''§'''
*** '''Lines the inner surface of pelvic muscles'''
*** '''Continuous with the transversalis fascia'''
* '''The cavernosal nerves (neurovascular bundles) travel between the levator/endopelvic and prostatic fascia, posterolateral to the prostate''' ('''See Figure 1''', same as above)