THE PENIS. 481 



The Integuments. — The integument of the penis, which is con- 

 tinued from that of the pubes and scrotum, forms a simple investment 

 as far as the neclc of the glans. At this part it leaves the surface and is 

 doubled up in a loose cylindrical fold, constituting the p/rj)uce or forc- 

 sJcin. The inner layer of this fold returns to the penis l^ehind the cervix, 

 ^vhere it is firmly attached ; and from thence the integument, becoming 

 again adherent, is continued forwards over the corona and glans, as far 

 as the orifice of the urethra, where it meets with the mucous membrane 

 of the urethra. Upon the body of the penis the skin is thin, free from 

 fat, and, in the anterior two-thirds of its length, from hairs also ; in 

 these respects difltcring remarkably from that on the pubes, which is 

 thick, covers a large cushion of fat, and, after puberty, is beset with 

 hairs : the skin of tlie penis is moreover very movable and distensible, 

 and is of a darker colour than that of the neighbouring parts. At the 

 free margin of the prepuce the integument changes its character, and 

 ai;:i roaches to that of a mucous membrane, being red, thin, and moist. 

 jSumerous sebaceous glands are collected round the cervix of the penis 

 and corona glandis ; they are named the glands of Tijson, or glandular 

 odorifer^e, their secretion having a peculiar odour. 



Upon the surface of the glans penis the integument again changes its 

 character ; it ceases to contain glands, but is beset with large papilliB, 

 which are very vascular and extremely sensitive, and it adheres most 

 intimately and immovably to the spongy tissue of the glans. 



Beneath the skin, on the body of the penis, the ordinary superficial 

 fascia is very distinct ; it is continuous with that of the groin, and 

 also with the dartos tissue of the scrotum. Near the root of the 

 organ there is in front a dense band of fibro-elastic tissue, named the 

 smpcnsory ligament, lying amongst the fibres of the superficial fascia ; 

 it is triangular in form ; its anterior border is free, above it is connected 

 with the fore part of the pubic symphysis, aixl below it runs down upon 

 the dorsum of the penis. 



The integuments of the penis are supplied with blood by branches of 

 the dorsal artery of the penis and external pudic ; the veins join the 

 dorsal and external pudic veins. Their nerves are derived from the 

 dorsal and anterior superficial perineal brandies of the pudic nerves. 



•THE COEPOKA CAVEPJSTOSA. 



The corpora cavernosa form the principal part of the body of the 

 penis, and chiefly determine its form and consistence ^n the state of 

 erection. They are two cylindrical bodies, placed side by side, flattened 

 on their median aspects, and closely united and in part blended together 

 along the middle line in the anterior three-fourths of their length ; 

 whilst at the back part, in contact with the symphysis pubis, they 

 separate from each other in the form of two bulging and than tapering 

 processes named crura, which, extending backwards, are attached to the 

 pubic and ischial rami, and are invested by the erectores penis or 

 ischio-cavernosi muscles. The enlarged portion at the root, named by 

 Xobelt the hidb of tlie corpora cavernosa, attains a much greater pro- 

 portionate development in some quadrupeds tlran in man. In front, 

 the corpora cavernosa are closely bound together into a blunt conical 

 extremity, which is covered by the glans penis and firmly connected to 

 its base by fibrous tissue. 



