THE PEMS 



369 



axis of the corpus spongiosum from its bulb forward to the urinary 

 meatus at the tip of the glans penis. This canal has already been 

 sufficiently described in the preceding chapter. 



The skin of the glans penis is peculiar in the relatively moist 

 character of its epidermis and the consequent imperfect develop- 

 ment of its superficial horny layer. Its dermal papillae are con- 

 spicuously developed. In the region of the corona the derma 

 contains a ring of large sebaceous glands, the glands of Tyson, 

 which open on the free epithelial surface. Their secretion forms 

 the smegma, a peculiarly odoriferous sebum. 









FIG. 299. THE ERECTILE TISSUE OF THE PENIS. 



c r, peripheral capillary plexus ; t a, tunica albuginea ; v s, venous spaces ; s, bands of 

 smooth muscle and vascular connective tissue, x 30. (After Kolliker.) 



The nerves of the penis are abundantly supplied with special 

 nerve end organs. In the skin they form free varicose endings 

 among the epithelial cells, and are connected with tactile corpus- 

 cles of Meissner in the dermal papillae. Deeper in the skin are 

 many end bulbs of Krause, while still deeper are the peculiar 

 genital corpuscles. Pacinian corpuscles are also found in the 

 loose connective tissue and in the tunica albuginea of the corpora 

 cavernosa. Nerve fibres are abundantly supplied to the walls of 

 the blood vessels. 

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