552 THE TISSUES. 



(the trabeculae) ; and the minute rounded angular cavities bounded 

 by the latter, and communicating on all sides. These cavities (the 

 venous sinuses of the cavernous body) are all lined by a delicate 

 scaly epithelium, which often does not admit of being detached; and 

 are naturally filled with venous blood. The trabeculse are composed 

 of collagenous and elastic tissue in nearly equal proportions, toge- 

 ther with smooth muscular fibres ; and in many of them larger or 

 smaller arteries and nerves are inclosed. The fascia penis incloses 

 the corpora cavernosa from the root of the penis to the glans, 

 abounds in elastic tissue, and contributes to the formation of the 

 suspensory ligament of the penis; extending from its dorsum to 

 the symphysis pubis, and containing much elastic tissue. External 

 to this is the subcutaneous areolar tissue, containing a layer of 

 smooth muscular fibres continued from the dartos to the prepuce; 

 and finally the very delicate skin, whose peculiarities, so far as -its 

 glands are concerned, have already been specified (p. 487). 



The arteries of the penis need description here only in regard to 

 the manner in which they supply the corpora cavernosa. Very small 

 branches run in a convoluted manner, except at the time of erection, 

 in the axis of the trabeculas, ramify in them, and ultimately open 

 into the venous spaces by ramuscules 3 ^ OTJ to y^ of an inch in 



diameter. (Fig. 381, c.) In the posterior 

 part of the penis there are numerous 

 minute arterial trunks ( 3 J^ to T Jo of an 

 inch), lying from 3 to 10 together, and 

 being convoluted in a peculiar tendril- 

 like manner (arterias helicinas); though 

 not terminating in caBcal ends, in most 

 instances certainly, as they were sup- 

 posed to do by J. Miiller. (Fig. 381.) 

 The arterial ramification is precisely 



Small artery of the corpus caverno- / 



sum, giving off a lateral branch divid- similar in the corpus spongiosum urethrcB. 



ine into helicine arteries ; terminating r-m . i 



in very small vessels, which are con- Tne > Commence in the VCUOUS Spa- 



tinued into the trabecuiar tissue. . ces, which intercommunicate through- 



Arterial sheath of trabecuiar tissue. n , . , , -^ 



&. Wall of the arteries, c. Capillary OUtj from which short efferent VCinS 



arteries - carry the blood to the superficial ones. 



The lymphatics form very close plexuses in the corium of the glans, 

 and the prepuce, and the remainder of the integument, and commu- 

 nicate with the superficial inguinal glands. There are also lymph- 



