DISSECTION OF THE PERIN.EUM IN THE MALE. 281 



entrance of the prepuce, and reflect the skin on each side for three or 

 four inches. 



Suspensory Ligaments of the prepuce. When the outer cutaneous 

 layer of the prepuce is removed, there is exposed an elastic fibrous layer 

 which descends into it on each side from the abdominal tunic. These 

 are the suspensory lij^aments of the prepuce. 



Vessels and Nerves. The cutaneous nerves of the prepuce and scro- 

 tum are branches of the inguinal nerve or nerves. One or more of 

 these, derived from the 2nd and 3rd lumbar nerves, descend through 

 the ingiiinal canal. The arteries are branches of the stihcutaneous 

 ahdoininal artery. This vessel, which is a branch of the external pudic 

 artery, passes forwards a few inches from the middle line. The trunk 

 of the artery is to be left undisturbed at present. 



A rich plexus of veins exists in and around the scrotum. This 

 plexus is drained by a comparatively small vein that accompanies the 

 external pvidic artery, and by a larger vessel which penetrates the 

 gracilis to empty itself into the femoral vein. 



Directions, — While the penis is pulled forwards, reflect the integu- 

 mental covering from the upper face of its free portion, and follow back- 

 wards its dorsal vessels and nerves. 



Dorsal Arteries of the penis (Plates 39 and 46). On each side there 

 are two of these, distinguished as anterior and posterior. 1. The anterior 

 dorsal artery of the penis is one of the terminal branches of the external 

 pudic artery. It results from the bifurcation of that vessel imme- 

 diately after its emergence from the inguinal canal, and after a course 

 of a few inches it divides into an anterior branch which passes forwards 

 on the free portion of the penis, and a posterior which passes backwards 

 on the fixed portion, meeting and anastomising with the posterior 

 dorsal artery. When the penis is non-erect, the anterior of these 

 branches has a flexuous disposition, which permits it to be elongated 

 without stretching when the organ becomes erect. 2. The 2^osterior 

 dorsal artery of the penis is a branch of the cavernous artery (from the 

 obturator). It runs forwards on the dorsal aspect of the fixed portion 

 of the penis, and anastomoses with the posterior division of the anterior 

 dorsal artery. These arteries are mainly expended in branches to the 

 cavernous and spongy portions of the penis, and they also give off some 

 twigs to the prepuce. 



Dorsal Nerves of the penis. These nerves, right and left, accom- 

 pany the dorsal vessels on the dorsum, or upper surface, of the penis. 

 Each is the continuation of the pudic nerve, which reaches the penis by 

 turning round the ischial arch. In proceeding forwards along the 

 penis, the nerves are disposed in a flexuous manner to allow them to be 



