The two
corpora cavernosa penis
A corpus cavernosum penis (singular) (literally "cave-like body" of the penis, plural corpora cavernosa) is one of a pair of sponge-like regions of erectile tissue, which contain most of the blood in the penis during an erection.
Such a corpus ...
are surrounded by a strong
fibrous
Fiber or fibre (from la, fibra, links=no) is a #Natural fibers, natural or Fiber#Artificial fibers, artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The stronge ...
envelope consisting of superficial and deep fibers. The superficial fibers are
longitudinal
Longitudinal is a geometric term of location which may refer to:
* Longitude
** Line of longitude, also called a meridian
* Longitudinal engine, an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicl ...
in direction, and form a single tube which encloses both corpora; the deep fibers are arranged circularly around each corpus, and form by their junction in the
median plane
The median plane also called a mid-sagittal plane is used to describe the sagittal plane as it bisects the body vertically through the midline marked by the navel, dividing the body exactly in left and right side.
The term parasagittal plane is u ...
the septum of the penis.
This septum is composed of multiple strands of
connective tissue
Connective tissue is one of the four primary types of animal tissue, along with epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. It develops from the mesenchyme derived from the mesoderm the middle embryonic germ layer. Connective tiss ...
, similar to that of the
tunica albuginea.
It is thick and complete behind, where the corpora cavernosa become independent and form separate
crura,
but it's imperfect in the front, where it consists of a series of vertical bands arranged like the teeth of a comb; it is therefore named the ''
septum
In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; plural septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate.
Examples
Human anatomy
* Interatri ...
pectiniforme'' (
pectinate septum).
See also
*
Scrotal septum
The septum of the scrotum is a vertical layer of fibrous tissue that divides the two compartments of the scrotum. It consists of flexible connective tissue. Its structure extends to the skin surface of the scrotum as the scrotal raphe. It is an ...
References
External links
* http://www.anatomyatlases.org/MicroscopicAnatomy/Section14/Plate14277.shtml
Mammal male reproductive system
Human penis anatomy
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