lobes of the glans, the canal has the outline of a small arch 0'06 inch across,
and an inch further on it is a minute obliquely transverse slit T05 inch, and, an
inch in advance of this, it is vertical and hardly distinguishable from the crypts
of the spongy body. At the base of the lobes of the glans it is a transverse opening
O'12 inch across, and tracing the canal into the filiform process its capacity is increased
to O'24, in a specimen much shrunk by preservation in strong spirit. The mucous
surface of the urethra is thrown into finer longitudinal folds throughout its whole
length, from the membranous portion to the base of the glans; thus conferring on it
a considerable capacity for distention.
The only lacunae I detected occur opposite to the attachments of the retractor
muscles and are elongately crescentic openings directed backwards.
In the female the urethra is 2'50 inches in length. Between the extremities of
the grooves of the ureters, which run backwards for 0'90 inch, a longitudinal fold
arises from a small eminence 0'25 inch long by 0T0 high and is prolonged along the
whole extent of the vertical wall of the canal.
The prostate has not been demonstrated to my satisfaction, as the specimen
under examination is not in good preservation. Eour small pits arranged somewhat
in a circle and situated to the side of the caput gallinaginis appear to be the openings
of the ducts from this body. The caput gallinaginis will be considered in connection
with the vasa def erentia.
Corpora cavernosa.-—After separating from each other, each is prolonged backwards
and outwards for T50 inch as a dense fibrous rod; this when bisected longitudinally
is found to be filled with a soft spongy substance, contained in a special
cavity shut off by a fibrous interval of three-quarters of an inch from the true
cavernous substance of the penis.
The corpus spongiosum investing the hinder wall of the urethra divides into
two crura; each prolonged into the centre of the bulbo-cavernosus muscle of its
own side, and lodged in a strong fascia derived from the inner wall of the fibrous
investment of the corpus cavemosum in the erector muscle. A vertical section
shows this position of the spongy body extending 2'25 inches backwards from the
urethra, around which it is prolonged forwards as a thin investment.
. Relations o f corpus cavemosum a/nd corpus spongiosum.—Eight inches
anterior to the membranous portion, a transverse section shows the corpus cavemosum
with a rounded outline. Immediately behind the attachment of the
prepuce the section is transversely oval, and about halfway between the latter
locality and the base of the glans the organ preserves the same form. A section
through the base of the lobes of the glans demonstrates the spongy body of nearly
the same dimensions as the separated halves of the corpus cavemosum, between
and rather above which it is placed. The corpora cavernosa either terminate here
or are prolonged in their fibrous coverings into the lobes of the glans; while the
spongy body, or more correctly the urethral continuation of it, is lengthened into the
filiform process with the urethra at its upper extremity. The corpora cavernosa
terminate in a rounded end 0*25 inch across, and external to their fibrous sheaths are
surrounded by the spongy tissue just mentioned, which is of a highly erectile
character, the lobes consisting exclusively of this tissue except when the corpora
cavernosa are prolonged into them.
I have stated that the cavernous bodies may either pass into the lobes of the
glans or stop short of them, an observation which I am enabled to make, having
examined two organs in which this variation is shown. On the right side of one,
the anterior crus passes for a full inch into the lobe directed forwards and outwards,
while the other of the opposite side is projected into its lobe for only 0'50 inch ; but
0'36 inch anterior to its rounded termination there is an isolated piece of brown
tissue of the same nature as its spongy substance, 0'36 inch in length and invested
by a fibrous capsule. I t is placed transversely and connected to the end of the
crus by a line of fibrous tissue. In the other penis the corpus cavemosum is found
extending 1 inch into the left lobe, but no trace of it can be detected on the right
side in which its blunt end is observed at the base of the glans.
Tn the filiform process, the spongy body soon unites with the other erectile
tissue which surrounds it, and the resultant structure is prolonged to the extremity
of the process, becoming finer and finer and less dense as it nears the point.
The preputial'sheath is 7 inches long and the circular fibres which form it
appear to be derived from the pa/n/mculus ca/mosus muscle and extend backwards to
behind the first bend.
The erector penis invests all the sides of the eras of the cavernous body except
the inner face and the last half inch internally of its superior margin, which gives
attachment to a bundle from the ejaculator semvnis. I t consists of fibres which
arch downwards from the upper to the lower margin, where they terminate in a very
strong glistening fascia adherent to the under surface of the eras.
Ejaculator semvnis.—This muscle is very thick and encloses the spongy
substance. I t arises from the strong fascia attached to the inner wall of the fibrous
covering of the corpora cavernosa, and the fibres stretch from before backwards and
inwards, outwards and upwards to be fastened to the fascia in connection with the
upper surface of the crura common to the two muscles. A few are also attached
to the strong rectal fascia. Anterior fibres are directed downwards and backwards
to meet the fellows of the opposite side in a strong fascia behind the bulb, and have
the retractor muscle lying below them.
A strong muscle (levator a/m) arises from the posterior extremity of the outwardly
prolonged lamella of the fibrous investment of the crura, and expands
towards the middle line over the hinder end of the ejaculator semims, to become
invested along'the rectum by a wide surface and to mix with the sphincter am.
Retractor muscles.—These are two long cord-like structures fixed posteriorly to
the strong fascia covering the anterior surface of the ejaculator, and lying alongside
of the rectum. Passing out between the two ejaculators they, of course, press against
the bulb and rest on the line of union of these two muscles and the membranous
portion of the urethra. The muscles are in close contact till they appear beyond
the ejaculator muscles where they diverge to reach their respective sides of the penis.