Contribution to the study of the venous vasculature of the penis.

The penile veins are thought to be responsible for some erectile disorders. The aim of this study was to describe the anatomy and function of these veins. The venous systems of 25 cadaveric penises were studied by various anatomic and histologic techniques. The superficial veins arising from the tegumentary layers drain into the superficial dorsal vein which in three-quarters of cases empties into the left great saphenous vein. The veins of the deep internal system, running below the deep fascia of the penis, emerge from the erectile bodies and can be divided into two systems, one anterosuperior and the other posteroinferior. The anterosuperior system comprises the veins of the glans which will form the deep dorsal vein; the latter receives blood from the medial portion of the corpus spongiosum and from the free portion of the corpora cavernosum mainly via the circumflex veins. It ends in the pre-prostatic plexus. The posteroinferior system, issuing from the posterior portion of the erectile bodies, is composed of the bulbar, cavernous and crural veins which drain towards the pre-prostatic plexus and the internal pudendal veins. Anastomoses link the two networks, superficial and deep. Study of the structure of the veins of the deep system reveals the presence of muscular cushions, which we have shown to have adrenergic innervation. These findings are compared with those of the literature, which show variations which are mainly of number. The place of veins in the mechanism of erection is discussed.