356 SPLANCHNOLOGY. 



Erector penis. — This is a somewhat conical muscle, arising from 

 ihe inferior portion of the tuberosity of the ischium. It is 

 inserted to the penis, and is a retractor and levator of that organ. 



Retractor penis. — This is a long, flat muscle, arising from 

 the inferior surface of the sacrum ; it descends in front of the 

 sphincter ani, between the retractor ani and the walls of the 

 rectum, where it gives off numerous short bundles, which unite. 

 below and form a suspensory ring for the rectum. It now passes 

 along the ijiferior surface of the penis, is attached to the acceler- 

 ator urinse by cellular tissue, reaching the glans, on which it is 

 lost. It retracts the penis within the sheath. 



Wilson's muscle. — A muscle, consisting of transverse fibres, 

 which arise from the lateral walls of the pelvis, and are attached 

 to the membranous urethra, embracing Cowper's glands. It 

 compresses and aids in the discharge of the glands, and contracts 

 the membranous portions of the urethra. 



Perineal fascia. — This is situated in the perineal region, and 

 it consists of two layers, a superficial and a deep. The former, 

 which is fibro-elastic in its structure, lies immediately under the 

 skin, and is connected inferiorly with the dartos ; it extends 

 upwards, gradually disappearing as it nears the anus. Internally 

 this layer is attached to the deep portion, which is more of a 

 white fibrous nature, and extends from the rectum downwards 

 l^etween the thighs, becoming gi-adually lost in either direction. 

 It is related with the erector, and accelerator muscle, and also 

 passes between the former and the adductor magnus, to become 

 attached to the ischial tuberosity. 



The arteries of the penis are the external and internal pudic, 

 and twigs from the obturator. The nerves come from the internal 

 pudic and sympathetic. 



SEMINAL FLUID. 



The secretion of the male genital glands is a viscid, whitish^ 

 albuminous fluid — the sperm, or seminal fluid, which contains 

 the spermatozoa, microscopic objects consisting each of an ovoid 

 head, and a long wavy filamentous tail. They possess a certain 

 vibratory motion, and have the power of penetrating and fertilise 

 iog the female ovum. 



