408 DISSECTION OF THE AEDOMEX. 



some cases the characters of a mucous membrane. Behind the glans are 

 some sebaceous follicles glandulce odoriferce. 



In the scrotum the superficial fascia becomes thin, and of a reddish 

 color. The prolongation around the testicle on one side, is separate from 

 that on the other side ; and the two pouches coming in contact in the 

 middle line, form the septum scroti. 



The subcutaneous layer in the scrotum, penis, and front of the perineum, 

 contains involuntary muscular fibres, to which the corrugation of the skin 

 is owing. This contractile structure is named the dartoid tissue. 



Dissection. By removing all the fatty tissue from the root of the penis 

 and the front of the symphysis pubis, the suspensory ligament will be de- 

 fined. And the dorsal arteries and nerves, with tlie dorsal vein of the 

 penis, which will be partly laid bare, are to be followed forwards in the 

 teguments. 



The suspensory ligament of the penis is a band of fibrous tissue, of a 

 triangular form, which is attached by its apex to the front of the symphy- 

 sis pubis near the lower part. Widening below, it is fixed to the upper 

 surface of the body of the penis, and is prolonged on it for some distance. 

 In the ligament are contained the dorsal vessels and nerves of the penis. 



Dorsal vessels and nerves. The arteries and nerves on the dorsum of 

 the penis are the terminal parts of the pudic trunks of both sides (p. 399). 

 The vein accompanying the arteries enters the pelvis through the triangu- 

 lar perinaeal ligament. 



The dorsal artery, one on each side, pierces the suspensory ligament, 

 and extends forwards to the glans, where it ends in many branches for 

 that structure : in its course the vessel supplies the integuments and the 

 body of the penis. It may be derived from the accessory pudic (p. 399). 



The dorsal vein is a single trunk, and commences by numerous branches 

 from the glans penis and the prepuce. It runs backwards by the side of 

 the artery, through the suspensory ligament and the triangular ligament 

 of the urethra, to join the prostatic plexus of veins. The vein receives 

 branches from the erectile structure and the teguments of the penis. 



Each dorsal nerve takes the same course as the artery, and ends like it 

 in numerous branches to the glans penis. It furnishes a large branch to 

 the corpus cavernosum penis, and other offsets to the integuments of the 

 dorsum, sides, and prepuce of the penis. 



In the female these vessels are much smaller than in the male ; they 

 occupy the upper surface of the clitoris the organ that represents the 

 penis. 



Dissection of the muscles. The surface of the external muscle of the 

 abdominal wall (fig. 135) is now to be freed from fascia on both sides of 

 the body. 



It is not advisable to begin cleaning this muscle in front, because there 

 it has a thin aponeurosis, which is taken away too readily with the fat. 

 Beginning the dissection at the posterior part, the student is to carry the 

 knife obliquely upwards and downwards in the direction of the fibres. 

 The thin aponeurosis before referred to is in front of a line extended up- 

 wards from the anterior part of the iliac crest; and as the dissector ap- 

 proaches that spot, he must be careful not to injure it, more particularly 

 at the upper part, where it lies on the margin of the ribs, and is very 

 indistinct. 



On the right side the external abdominal ring, c, may be defined, to 

 show the cord passing through it; and on the left side a thin fascia (inter- 



