The anatomical study on Denonvilliers' fascia and its implication in rectal surgery / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To clarify the anatomical and pathlogical implications of Denonvilliers' fascia.Method In this study,thirty pelvic specimens (17 males and 13 females) were incised through the median sagittal plane and carried for regional anatomy study; Denonvilliers' fascia was identified by immunohistochemistry.Results Denonvilliers' fascia could be found in all male specimensit had an anterior leaf and a posterior leaf,with the anterior one attaching to seminal vesicle,seminiferous duct,prostate and the bottom of bladder firmly.The fascia originated at the fold of the peritoneum and ended at the perineum fascia,fusing into the pelvic parietal fascia laterally.It was not obvious in females,only to find a thin and transparent membrane between vagina and rectum.The maximum height of Denonvilliers' fascia in left pelvis was (3.2 ± 0.3) cm,compared with (3.3 ± 0.3) cm in the right pelvis (t =0.965,P ＞ 0.05).Immunohistochemistry study revealed that there was no lymph node in the fascia and its lateral parts were enriched of nerve fibers,which were few in its middle part.Conclusions The unique anatomical and pathlogical characteristics of Denonvilliers' fascia are of vital importance to the avoidance of nerve injury during rectal surgery.