182 COMPRESSOR VENJE DORSALIS MUSCLE. 



Miiller, by which the blood is conveyed with which the cells 

 are distended as by an injection throughout the arteries, during 

 erection. 



How far any coarctation or compression of the superficial 

 veins at the root of the veins may assist this accumulation of 

 blood in the cells, or whether it takes place at all, is not 

 known. Two muscles have been lately described by Mr. 

 Houston* under the name of qpmpressores vena dorsalis penis ; 

 said to possess this office. They arise on each side from the 

 ramus of the pubis above the erector penis muscle, expand into 

 a thin layer, pass upward and forward and unite in a common 

 tendinous band over the dorsal vein. They are separated from 

 the muscle of Wilson by laying in front of the anterior layer 

 of the triangular ligament ; and the crura of the penis intervenes 

 between them and the erector penis muscle. I consider it 

 doubtful however from my own dissections, whether these mus- 

 cles are any thing more than the anterior termination of the 

 accelerator urinae muscles which may be traced forwards on the 

 sides and dorsum of the penis to the suspensory ligament of the 

 organ. The veins which they are said to compress are more- 

 over the superficial, and not the deep seated which alone com- 

 municate with the cells of the corpus cavernosum. 



* Dubliu Hospital Reports, vol. 5. 



