1012 THE MALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



The body of the penis is the part between the root and extremity. In the 

 flaccid condition of the organ it is cylindrical, but when erect has a triangular 



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prismatic form with rounded angles, the broadest side being turned upward, and 

 called the dorsum. The body is covered by integument, and contains in its interior 

 a large portion of the urethra. The integument covering the penis is remarkable 

 for its thinness, its dark color, its looseness of connection with the deeper parts 

 of the organ, and its containing no adipose tissue. At the root of the penis the 

 integument is continuous with that upon the pubes and scrotum, and at the 

 neck of the glans it leaves the surface and becomes folded upon itself to form the 

 prepuce. 



The internal layer of the prepuce is attached behind to the cervix, and 

 approaches in character to a mucous membrane ; from the cervix it is reflected 

 over the glans penis, and at the meatus urinarius is continuous with the mucous 

 lining of the urethra. 



The integument covering the glans penis contains no sebaceous glands, but 

 projecting from its free surface are a number of small, highly sensitive papillae. 

 At the back part of the meatus urinarius a fold of mucous membrane passes 

 backward to the bottom of a depressed raphe', where it is continuous with the 

 prepuce; this fold is termed thefrcenum prceputii. 



Structure of the Penis. The penis is composed of a mass of erectile tissue 

 enclosed in three cylindrical fibrous compartments. Of these, two, the corpora 

 cavernosa, are placed side by side along the upper part of the organ ; the third, or 

 corpus spongiosum, encloses the urethra and is placed below. 



The Corpora Cavernosa form the chief part of the body of the penis. They 

 consist of two fibrous cylindrical tubes, placed side by side, and intimately 

 connected along the .median line for their anterior three-fourths, whilst at their 

 back part they separate from each other to form the crura, which are two strong 

 tapering fibrous processes firmly connected to the rami of the os pubis and 

 ischium. Each crus commences by a blunt -pointed process in front of the 

 tuberosity of the ischium, and before its junction with its fellow to form the 

 body of the penis it presents a slight enlargement, named by Kobelt the bulb 

 of the corpus cavernosum. Just beyond this point they become constricted, 

 and retain an equal diameter to their anterior extremity, where they form a 

 single rounded end which is received into a fossa in the base of the glans penis. 

 A median groove on the upper surface lodges the dorsal vein of the penis, and the 

 groove on the under surface receives the corpus spongiosum. The root of the 

 penis is connected to the symphysis pubis by the suspensory ligament. 



Structure. The corpora cavernosa are surrounded by a strong fibrous envelope, 

 consisting of two sets of fibres the one, longitudinal in direction, being common 

 to the two corpora cavernosa, and investing them in a common covering ; the 

 other, internal, circular in direction, and being proper to each corpus caverno- 

 sum. The internal circular fibres of the two corpora cavernosa form, by their 

 junction in the mesial plane, an incomplete partition or septum between the two 

 bodies. 



The septum between the two corpora cavernosa is thick and complete behind, 

 but in front it is incomplete, and consists of a number of vertical bands, which arc- 

 arranged like the teeth of a comb, whence the name which it has received, septum 

 pectiniforme. These bands extend between the dorsal and the urethral surface 

 of the corpora cavernosa. This fibrous investment is extremely dense, of con- 

 siderable thickness, and consists of bundles of shining white fibres, with an 

 admixture of well-developed elastic fibre, so that it is possessed of great 

 elasticity. 



From the internal surface of the fibrous envelope, as well as from the sides of 

 the septum, are given off a number of bands or cords which cross the interior of 

 the corpora cavernosa in all directions, subdividing them into a number of 

 separate compartments, and giving the entire structure a spongy appearance. 

 These bands and cords are called trabeculce, and consist of white fibrous tissue, 



