236 



MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE ORGANS. 



The erectile tissue (Fig. 181) consists of connective-tissue 

 strands containing many elastic fibres and smooth muscle cells, 

 and joined with one another to form a network. In the 

 meshes of this network there are spaces which form an anasto- 

 mosing system, lined with a single layer of flat epithelium. 

 Contained in this cavernous system is venous blood. The 

 erectile tissue of each corpus cavernosum is surrounded by a 

 fine connective-tissue sheath, the tunica albuginea. 



FIG. 181. 



Endolhe- 

 liiim of 

 vessel 



Bundles 

 of smooth 

 muscle 

 ~v cells cut 

 \trans- 

 I rcrsely 

 '.'-, 



Trabecula 



^nitinfh muscle 

 _cells cut 

 longitudinally 



I enous 

 space 



-filled with 

 blood 





Spongy (erectile) tissue of the corpus cavernosum of an ape's penis. X 200. 



The corpora cavernosa penis are supplied with blood in the 

 following way : the afferent arteries, branches of the arteriaB 

 profundae et dorsales penis, pass in part into the veins by means 

 of capillaries, and in part open directly into venous spaces. In 

 the first case the capillaries form a fine cortical network under 



