THE PENIS. 159 



It is composed of three parts, namely, two oblong bodies, 

 called Corpora Cavernosa, which, at their commencement, 

 form the bifurcated portions, and then unite to compose the 

 body of the organ ; and a third part, of a spongy texture, 

 which is connected to these bodies where they unite to each 

 other, on the under side, and continues attached to them during 

 the whole extent of their union, terminating in an expanded 

 head which covers the anterior extremities of the corpora caver- 

 nosa. The urethra passes from the neck of the bladder, on the 

 under side of the penis, fo its anterior extremity, invested by 

 this third body, which is therefore called Corpus Spongiosum 

 Urethra. 



The two bifurcated extremities are attached each of them to 

 one of the crura of the pubis and ischium ; they unite to form 

 the body of the penis immediately anterior to the symphysis 

 pubis, to which the lower part of it is also attached ; so that the 

 penis is firmly connected to the middle of the anterior part of 

 the pelvis. The urethra proceeds from the neck of the bladder, 

 between the crura of the ischium and pubis and the crura of the 

 penis, to join the body of the penis, at its commencement, and 

 near this place its connexion with the corpus spongiosum begins ; 

 so that there is a small portion of the urethra between the neck 

 of the bladder, and the commencement of the corpus spongio- 

 sum, which is not covered by the corpus spongiosum. This is 

 called the membranous part of the urethra. 



The penis therefore consists of two oblong bodies of a cellu- 

 lar structure, which originate separately, but unite together to 

 form it ; and of the urethra, which joins these bodies immedi- 

 ately after their union, and is invested by a spongy covering, 

 which by its expansion forms the anterior extremity not only of 

 the urethra, but of the whole penis. These three bodies, thus 

 arranged and connected, are covered by cellular membrane and 

 skin in a manner to be hereafter described. 



The Corpora Cavernosa, 

 Which compose the body of the penis, are two irregular 

 cylinders, that are formed by a thick dense elastic membrane, 



