CHAPTER XV. 



THE MALE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL OEGANS OF GENERATION, 

 WITH THEIR GLANDULAR APPENDAGES. 



BY DR. J. HENRY C. SIMES, 

 Lecturer on Histology, University of Pennsylvania. 



Penis. The copulative organ of the male consists of erec- 

 tile tissue, and is made up of three bodies, each enclosed in a 

 fibrous membrane, the tunica albuginea. Two of these bodies 

 are termed corpora cavernosa; the third corpus spongiosum ; 

 through the latter the urethra passes. 



The tunica albuginea consists of connective tissue and elas- 

 tic fibres, with some smooth muscular elements. From the in- 

 ternal surface of this membrane arise numerous trabeculaa, or 

 bands, composed of the same tissue as the membrane ; they 

 divide and subdivide, forming a very intricate reticulum. The 

 cavities thus formed freely communicate one with the other, 

 and are lined with a single layer of flattened endothelial plates. 

 This system of intercommunicating lacunse is in reality nothing 

 but a true venous network. It is in direct communication with 

 the veins of the organ. By the overfilling of these cavities with 

 blood the erectile state is produced. 



Externally, the tunica albuginea is surrounded by loose 

 subcutaneous tissue, in which numerous elastic fibres are pres- 

 ent. Longitudinal bundles and a few oblique fibres of involun- 

 tary muscle are also found in this areolar tissue. The skin cov- 

 ering the penis is thin, and possesses numerous fine hairs, 

 which have an increased length as the root of the organ is 

 approached ; they are connected with ordinary sebaceous 

 glands which open into their follicles. Sudorific glands are 

 also present in the skin of this organ. The internal leaf of 

 the prepuce resembles closely a mucous membrane ; papillae 

 are numerous, -but there is an absence of hairs, and the seba- 



