THE DEEP VEINS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY 



749 



through muscle tissue and are liable to be compressed by its contraction, especially during the 

 act of defecation; they are affected by every form of portal obstruction. 



The prostatic plexus of veins is liable to become congested in many inflammatory conditions in 

 the neighborhood, such as acute gonorrheal prosiatitis. It is owing to the free communication 

 which exists between this and the middle hemorrhoidal plexus that great relief can be given by 

 free saline purgation. 



Hemorrhage may be very free from the prostatic plexus after operations on that gland, but 

 can usually be checked by hot fluid irrigation. Septic thrombosis sometimes occurs after 

 operations, and infected emboli may find their way into the general circulation. 



THIRD LUMBAR 



SUPERIOR 

 HEMORRHOIDAL 



DEEP 



CIRCUMFLEX 

 ILIAC 



OBTURATOR 



PROSTATIC 

 PLEXUS 



HEMORRHOIDAL 

 PLEXUS 



MIDDLE 

 HEMORRHOIDAL 



INFERIOR 

 HEMORRHOIDAL 



DORSAL VEIN 

 OF PENIS 



VESICAL PLEXUS 



INTERNAL PUDIC 



FIG. 524. The veins of the male pelvis, right half, viewed from the left. The Psoas muscle has been removed 

 and the rectum drawn down somewhat to the side. (Spalteholz.i 



The dorsal veins of the penis are two in number, a superficial and a deep. 

 The superficial vein drains the prepuce and skin of the penis, and, running back- 

 ward in the subcutaneous tissue, inclines to the right or left, and opens into the 

 corresponding superficial external pudic vein, a tributary of the internal or long 

 saphenous vein. The deep vein receives the blood from the glans penis and 

 corpora cavernosa; it courses backward in the middle Irne between the dorsal 

 arteries, beneath the deep fascia, and near the root of the penis passes between 



