perineum

American  

[per-uh-nee-uhm] / ˌpɛr əˈni əm /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

perinea

1. the area in front of the anus extending to the fourchette of the vulva in the female and to the scrotum in the male.

2. the diamond-shaped area corresponding to the outlet of the pelvis, containing the anus and vulva or the roots of the penis.

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perineum British  

/ ˌpɛrɪˈniːəm /

noun

1. the region of the body between the anus and the genital organs, including some of the underlying structures

2. the nearly diamond-shaped surface of the human trunk between the thighs

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perineum Scientific  

/ pĕr′ə-nē′əm /

plural

perinea

1. The region between the scrotum and the anus in males, and between the posterior vulva and the anus in females.

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Other Word Forms

• perineal adjective

Etymology

Origin of perineum

First recorded in 1625–35; from New Latin, from 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

Example Sentences

"There's a lot of healing that happens. It takes about six weeks for the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size. Any tears in the vagina or perineum are also healing."

From BBC

At that point, doctors failed to diagnose a gap which had developed in her perineum, instead advising her to carry out pelvic floor exercises and get physiotherapy.

From BBC

It includes diesel, talc on the perineum, nickel, aloe vera, Asian pickled vegetables and a host of chemical substances.

From BBC

Unlike the rectum, the perineum can be easily disinfected, and also has another major advantage: It can provide a clearer pathway to the anterior prostate, a region that is harder to reach with transrectal biopsies.

From Salon

The perineum is the area between the genitals and the anus.

From Seattle Times