ABDOMINAL WALL 417 



The integument of the penis is remarkable for its great 

 delicacy and elasticity, and the absence of hairs. It has a 

 brownish tint, and is freely movable over the organ. At the 

 glans the skin leaves the body of the penis, and, passing for 

 a variable distance over the glans, is folded back upon itself 

 so as to form the prepuce. The deep layer of the prepuce 

 reaches the penis again behind the corona glandis, and is then 

 reflected forwards over the glans to become continuous with 

 the mucous membrane of the urethra at the meatus urinarius. 

 A slight fold will be observed on the under surface of the 

 glans, extending from the lower angle of the urinary orifice to 

 the prepuce; this is \he frenum preputii. 



Dissection. Reflect the integument from the surface of the penis by 

 making a longitudinal incision along the middle line of the dorsum. 

 The superficial fascia will then be seen to be composed of a quantity of 

 loose areolar tissue, which is devoid of fat. The suspensory ligament 

 and the dorsal vessels and nerves of the penis should now be dissected. 

 The vessels and nerves are covered by the deep fascia of the penis. 



Suspensory Ligament of the Penis. The suspensory 

 ligament of the penis is a strong nbro-elastic band of a 

 triangular shape. By its posterior border it is attached to 

 the symphysis pubis. Towards the penis it separates into 

 two lamellae, which join the deep fascia of the body of the 

 organ. Between the two lamellae are placed the dorsal vessels 

 and nerves. 



Dorsal Vessels and Nerves. On the dorsum of the penis, 

 in the groove which extends along the middle line of the 

 corporus cavernosum penis, is the deep dorsal vein ; on each 

 side of this is the dorsal artery, and superficial and lateral to 

 the artery is the dorsal nerve. On the dorsum of the penis, 

 therefore, we find one vein, two arteries, and two nerves. 



The dorsal vein of the penis- begins by several twigs from 

 the glans and prepuce. It extends backwards in the middle 

 line, passes between the two layers of the suspensory ligament, 

 and gains the pelvis by passing under the arcuate ligament 

 It ends by joining the prostatic (pudendal) plexus of veins. 



The dorsal arteries are the terminal twigs of the internal 

 pudendal vessels. They pass forward between the two 

 layers of the suspensory ligament, and, continuing their 

 course, on the dorsum of the penis, they terminate in 

 branches to the glans penis. 



The dorsal nerves are branches of the pudendal. They 



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