88 ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



vessels. This opinion is the more probable from the cells being 

 lined by a thin membrane like the internal one of the veins, and 

 which is easily seen near the septum by tearing the spongy part 

 from it. 



The Corpus Spongiosum Urethras extends from ten or twelve 

 lines behind the junction of the crura of the corpus cavernosum, 

 to the anterior extremity of the penis. Externally, it has a coat 

 resembling that of the corpus cavernosum, except that it is thin- 

 ner, and in its centre is the canal for the passage of urine. Be- 

 tween the canal and the coat is a spongy structure, much finer 

 than that of the corpus cavernosum, and though the cells com- 

 municate freely, still they have the appearance of convoluted 

 veins. The corpus spongiosum is not of equal diameter in its 

 whole course, for its commencement in the perineum, where it 

 is pendulous, is enlarged into what is termed the Bulb; from this 

 it diminishes gradually to the anterior end, where it is again 

 enlarged into the glans penis. 



The Urethra is a mucous canal, whose length varies accord- 

 ing to the degree of erection in the penis, and extends from the 

 neck of the bladder to the extremity of the glans. It is curved, 

 and receives in its course the ductus ejaculatorii, the excreto- 

 ry ducts of Couper's glands, and the mucous lacunas of its own 

 internal membrane. The first part of this canal which tra- 

 verses the prostate gland is from fifteen to eighteen lines in 

 length, and is called the Prostatic Portion: it is well supported 

 by this body, although its own sides are very thin. On its in- 

 ferior surface is a doubling which constitutes the Verumonta- 

 num or Caput Gallinaginis. On either side of the caput galli- 

 naginis the canal of the urethra is depressed into something 

 like a cul-de-sac, where are to be found the lacunae of the pros- 

 tate gland. 



Between the Prostate and the Bulb is the membranous part 

 of the urethra, about eight or ten lines long; it is unprotected, 

 except by a soft covering, which seems in some measure to be 

 a mixture of gelatinous matter and muscular fibre. The former 

 was considered by Littre as a glandular body which secreted a 

 viscid humour into the interior of the canal; the latter, proba- 



