DISSECTION OP THE PERINiFlUM IN THE MALE. 281 



entrance of the prepuce, and reflect the skin on each side for three oi 

 four inches. 



Suspensory Ligaments of the prepuce. When the outer cutaneous 

 layer of the prepuce is removed, there is exposed an elastic librous layei 

 which descends into it on each side from the abdominal tunic. Thes( 

 are the suspensory ligaments of the prepuce. 



Vessels and Nerves. The mtaneous nerves of the prepuce and scro 

 turn are branches of the inguinal nerve or nerves. One or more o: 

 these, derived from the 2nd and 3rd lumbar nerves, descend througl: 

 the inguinal canal. The arteries are branches of the suhcutaneom 

 abdominal artery. This vessel, which is a branch of the external pudi( 

 artery, passes forwards a few inches from the middle line. The truni 

 of the artery is to be left undisturbed at present. 



A rich plexus of veins exists in and around the scrotum. This 

 plexus is drained by a comparatively small vein that accompanies the 

 external pudic artery, and by a larger vessel which penetrates the 

 gracilis to empty itself into the femoral vein. 



THE PENIS. 



Directions. — While the penis is pulled forwards, reflect the integu 

 mental covering from the upper face of its free portion, and follow back 

 wards its dorsal vessels and nerves. 



Dorsal Arteries of the penis (Plates 39 and 46). On eacli side there 

 are two of these, distinguished as anterior and posterior. 1. The anterioi 

 dorsal artery of the penis is one of the terminal branches of the externa' 

 pudic artery. It results from the bifurcation of that vessel imme 

 diately after its emergence from the inguinal canal, and after a course 

 of a few inches it divides into an anterior branch which passes forwards 

 on the free portion of the penis, and a posterior which passes backwards 

 on the fixed portion, meeting and anastomising with the posterioi 

 dorsal artery. When the penis is non-erect, the anterior of these 

 branches has a flexuous disposition, which permits it to be elongated 

 without stretching when the organ becomes erect. 2. The posterioi 

 dorsal artery of the penis is a branch of the cavernous artery (from the 

 obturator). It runs forwards on the dorsal aspect of the fixed portior 

 of the penis, and anastomoses with the posterior division of the anterioi 

 dorsal artery. These arteries are mainly expended in branches to the 

 cavernous and spongy portions of the penis, and they also give off some 

 twigs to the prepuce. 



Dorsal Nerves of the penis. These nerves, right and left, accom 

 pany the dorsal vessels on the dorsum, or upper surface, of the penis. 

 Each is the continuation of the pudic nerve, which reaches the penis bj 

 turning round the ischial arch. In proceeding forwards along the 

 penis, the nerves are disposed in a flexuous manner to allow them to be 



