428 INTERNAL ILIAC' ARTERY. 



short ; arising from the pudic between the layers of the subpubic fascia, and passing 

 transversely inwards, this artery reaches the bulb a little in front of the central 

 point of the perineum, and ramifies in the erectile tissue. It gives a branch to 

 Cowper's gland. 



(e) The artery of the corpus cavernosum (profunda penis), one of the terminal 

 branches of the internal pudic, runs a short distance between the crus penis and the 

 ramus of the pubes, and then continuing forward, penetrates the crus, and ramifies 

 in the corpus cavernosum. 



(/) The dorsal artery of the penis runs between the crus and the pubic symphysis : 

 having pierced the suspensory ligament, it continues along the dorsum of the penis 

 immediately beneath the skin, and parallel with the dorsal vein, as well as with the 

 corresponding artery of the opposite side. It supplies the integument of the penis, 

 and the fibrous sheath of the corpus cavernosum, anastomosing with the deep arteries ; 

 and, near the corona glandis, divides into branches, which supply the glans and the 

 prepuce. 



PECULIARITIES. Origin. The pudic artery is sometimes small, or it is defective in 

 one or two, or even three of its usual branches, which, in those circumstances, are sup- 

 plied by a supplemental vessel, the " accessory pudic" The defect most frequently 

 met with is that in which the pudic ends as the artery of the bulb, whilst the arteries 

 of the corpus cavernosum and the dorsum of the penis are derived from the acces- 

 sory pudic. But all the three arteries of the penis may be supplied by the accessory 

 pudic, the pudic itself ending as the superficial permeal. A single accessory pudic 

 has been seen to supply both cavernous arteries, whilst the pudic of the right side 

 gave both dorsal arteries. On the other hand, cases have occurred in which only 

 a single branch was furnished by the accessory artery, either to take the place of 

 an ordinary branch altogether wanting, or to aid one of the branches which was 

 diminutive in size. 



The accessory pudic, the occasional artery above alluded to, generally arises from 

 the pudic itself, before the passage of that vessel from the sacro-sciatic foramen, and 

 descends within the pelvis, and along the lower part of the urinary bladder. It lies 

 on the upper part of the prostate gland, or it may be, for a short space, likewise on 

 the posterior margin, and then proceeding forwards above the membranous part of 

 the urethra, reaches the perinaeum, by piercing the fascia of the subpubic arch. 



The accessory pudic sometimes arises with the other branches from the internal 

 iliac, and is not unfrequently connected with the prostatic or other branch of the 

 inferior vesical artery. A vessel having a similar distribution may spring from the 

 external iliac, through an irregular obturator, or through the epigastric artery. 



Branches. Artery of the bulb. This vessel is sometimes small, sometimes 

 wanting on one side, and occasionally it is double. But a more important deviation 

 from the common condition is one sometimes met with, in which the vessel, arising 

 earlier, and crossing the perineum farther back than usual, reaches the bulb from 

 behind. In such a case there is considerable risk of dividing the artery in performing 

 the lateral operation for stone. On the other hand, when this small vessel arises 

 from an accessory pudic artery, it lies more forward than usual, and out of danger in 

 case of operation. 



The dorsal artery of the penis has been observed to arise from the deep femoral 

 artery and to pass obliquely upwards and inwards to reach the root of the penis. 

 Tiedemann gives a drawing of this variety. 



The pudic artery in the female. In the female this vessel is much 

 smaller than in the male. Its course is similar, and it gives the following 

 branches. 



The superficial perineal branch is distributed to the labia pudendi. The 

 artery of the bulb supplies the mass of erectile tissue above and at the 

 sides of the entrance of the vagina, named the bulb of the vagina. The 

 two terminal branches, corresponding to the artery of the corpus cavernosum 

 and the dorsal artery of the penis, are distributed to the clitoris, and are 

 named the profunda and dorsal arteries. 



