436 THE PENIS. 



of the penis ; the trabecule are finer and more equal in size ; and 

 the veins form a nearly uniform plexus between them ; in the glans, the 

 meshes of this plexus are smallest and most uniform. Plain muscular 

 fibres immediately surround the canal of the urethra, and also form part 

 of the external coat of the spongy substance. The helicine arteries are 

 found in the spongy body, especially towards the bulb, but not in the 

 part which forms the glans penis. A considerable artery derived from 

 the internal pudic enters the bulb on each side, and supplies the greater 

 part of the spongy body, sending branches as far as the glans penis, 

 but this part is chiefly supplied by branches from the arteria dorsalis. 

 Besides these, Kobelt describes, as constantly present, another but much 

 smaller branch of the pudic artery, entering the bulb on the upper 

 surface, about an inch from its posterior extremity, and running forwards 

 in the corpus spongiosum to the glans. It is only in the spongy 

 body of the bulb that the arteries open directly into the veins : there 

 in part, and elsewhere entirely, it is by the intervention of capillaries. 

 Vems issue from the glans and adjoining part of the spongy body, to end 

 in the vena dorsalis penis ; those of the rest of the spongy body for the 

 most part pass backwards through the bulb, and end in the prostatic 

 and pudic venous plexuses : some emerge from beneath the corpora 

 cavernosa, anastomose with their veins, and end partly in the cutaneous 

 veins of the penis and scrotum, and partly in the pudic and obturator 

 veins. 



The lymphatics of the penis form a dense network on the skin of 

 the glans and prepuce, and also underneath the mucous lining of the 

 urethra. They pass chiefly into the inguinal glands. Deep-seated 

 lymphatics are also described as issuing from the cavernous and spongy 

 bodies, and passing under the pubic arch with the deep veins, to join 

 the lymphatic plexuses in the pelvis. 



The nerves of the penis are derived from the dorsal and superficial 

 perineal branches of the pudic nerve and from the hypogastric plexus 

 of the sympathetic. The former are distributed to the skin and mu- 

 cous membrane, the latter entirely to the cavernous and spongy bodies. 

 Krause observed end-bulbs on the nerves of the penis, and Schweigger- 

 Seidel found Pacinian bodies on the nerves of the glans. 



UEETHRA OF THE MALE. 



The male urethra extends from the neck of the bladder to the extremity 

 of the penis. Its total length is about eight inches and a half, but 

 varies much according to the length of the penis, and the condition of 

 that organ. Its diameter varies at different parts of its extent, as will 

 be stated more particularly hereafter. The tube consists of a contin- 

 uous mucous membrane, supported by an outer layer of submucous 

 tissue connecting it with the several parts through which it passes. In 

 the submucous tissue there are, throughout the whole extent of the 

 urethra, two layers of plain muscular fibres, the inner fibres disposed 

 longitudinally, and the outer in a circular direction. The urethra is 

 described under the three divisions of the 2^'ostatic, memh-anoiis, and 

 sjpongij portions. 



1. The first, or prostatic portion, is the part which passes through 

 the prostate gland. It is about 15 lines in length, is the widest part 

 of the canal, and is wider in the middle than at either end : at the neck 



