Positional relationship between the lateral border of Denonvilliers' fascia and pelvic plexus

Denonvilliers' fascia is an important landmark of the dissection layer during prostate or rectal surgeries. However, there are few reports on its lateral extension. This anatomical study aimed to define the lateral border of Denonvilliers' fascia and use it as an anatomical landmark to identify the origin and distribution of the nerve branches of the pelvic plexus. We investigated the lateral extent and position of the lateral border of Denonvilliers' fascia through macroscopic examination of 12 pelvic halves from eight cadavers and histological examination of two cadavers. The Denonvilliers' fascia extended laterally to be attached to the pelvic plexus on the lateral border. The origins of nerve branches from the pelvic plexus to the pelvic organs, except the rectum, were located anterior or anterosuperior to the lateral border of Denonvilliers' fascia. The origins of nerve branches to the prostate were mainly anterior to the lateral border of Denonvilliers' fascia; however, in 3/12 pelvic halves, the nerve branches originated in the region posteroinferior to the lateral border of Denonvilliers' fascia. The attachment point of Denonvilliers' fascia to the prostate was more superior in these three pelvic halves (distance from the top point of the posterior surface of the prostate to the attachment point, 5.6 ± 1.9 mm) than that in the other nine pelvic halves (10.1 ± 3.6 mm). The lateral border of Denonvilliers' fascia is closely related to the pelvic plexus, suggesting its usefulness as an anatomical landmark to identify the origin of nerve branches from the pelvic plexus.