678 



THE VASCULAR SYSTEMS 



branches which ramify in the bulb of the urethra. It is then continued forward 

 in the corpus spongiosum to the glans penis. It gives off a small branch to 

 Cowper's gland. 



The urethral artery (a. urethralis) is a small vessel which passes to the corpus 

 spongiosum at the angle of the converging crura of the penis. It reaches the glans 

 penis and anastomoses with the artery of the corpus cavernosum and the dorsal 

 artery of the penis. This vessel is quite often absent. 



The artery of the corpus cavernosum (a. profunda penis), one of the terminal 

 branches of the internal pudic, arises just after that vessel has perforated the 

 superficial triangular ligament, and, quickly entering the crus penis obliquely, 

 runs forward in the centre of the corpus cavernosum, to which its branches are 

 distributed. 



Transversus perinei 

 superficial. 



GREAT SACRO- 

 SCIATIC LIGAMENT 



Superficial perineal artery. 

 Superficial perineal nerve. 

 Internal pudic nerve. 

 Internal pudic artery. 



FIG. 476. The superficial muscles and vessels of the perineum. 



The dorsal artery of the penis (a. dorsalis penis) ascends between the crus and 

 pubic symphysis, and passes between the two layers of the suspensory ligament 

 of the penis, and runs forward on the dorsum of the penis to the glans, where it 

 divides into two branches which supply the glans and prepuce. On the dorsum 

 of the penis it lies immediately beneath the integument, between the dorsal nerve 

 and the deep dorsal vein, the former being on its outer side. It supplies the integ- 

 ument and fibrous sheath of the corpus cavernosum, sending branches through 

 the sheath to anastomose with the preceding vessel. 



The internal pudic artery in the female is smaller than in the male. Its origin 

 and course are similar, and there is considerable analogy in the distribution of 

 its branches. The superficial perineal artery supplies the labia pudendi; the 

 artery of the bulb supplies the bulbi vestibuli and the erectile tissue of the vagina; 

 the artery of the corpus cavernosum (a. profunda clitoridis) supplies the cavernous 

 body of the clitoris; and the dorsal artery of the clitoris (a. dorsalis clitoridix) 

 supplies the dorsum of that organ, and terminates in the glans and in the mem- 

 branous fold corresponding to the prepuce of the male. 



