Denonvilliers ’ fascia: Gender differences of its fascial architecture

Introduction: Whereas the existence of Denonvilliers ’ fascia (DVF) in either sex remains controversial, its identification at operation is considered important when mobilizing the distal rectum for cancer or during radical retropubic prostatectomy or rectocoele. The original description of the fascia was based exclusively on Denonvilliers’ findin gs in 12 adult male cadavers though Denonvilliers gave no account of its existence in women. Much of the controversy in the literature concerns the origin and development of the fascia, which is said to arise from a “fusion,” a “condensation of embryonic connective tissue,” or both to form a mature, “multilayered” structure.

Source: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies - October 1, 2018 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Ming Zhang, Pierre Chapuis, Les Bokey, Zhaoyang Xu Source Type: research