rectoprostatic fascia

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| Name = Rectoprostatic fascia

| Latin = fascia rectoprostatica

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| Caption = Rectoprostatic fascia

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The rectoprostatic fascia (Denonvilliers' fascia) is a membranous partition at the lowest part of the rectovesical pouch. It separates the prostate and urinary bladder from the rectum.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands.jspzQzpgzEzzSzppdocszSzuszSzcommonzSzdorlandszSzdorlandzSzdmd_f_03zPzhtm#13590047 |title=Dorland's Medical Dictionary |access-date=2007-12-11 }} It consists of a single fibromuscular structure with several layers that are fused together and covering the seminal vesicles. It is also called Denonvilliers' fascia after French anatomist and surgeon Charles-Pierre Denonvilliers.{{WhoNamedIt|synd|2339|Denonvilliers' fascia}}

The structure corresponds to the rectovaginal fascia in the female. The rectoprostatic fascia also inhibits the posterior spread of prostatic adenocarcinoma; therefore invasion of the rectum is less common than is invasion of other contiguous structures.