Corpus Cavernosum of Penis (Corpus cavernosum penis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The corpus cavernosum of the penis is one of a pair of dorsolateral expandable cylinders of vascular erectile tissue forming the primary structural foundation of the penile shaft. Anchored proximally to the ischiopubic rami by the crura and encased within the thick, inextensible tunica albuginea, its cavernous spaces (lacunae) engorge with arterial blood during parasympathetic-mediated erection.
Clinical notes
Penile fracture involves traumatic rupture of the engorged tunica albuginea during sexual activity, producing an audible crack, acute detumescence, and eggplant hematoma requiring urgent surgical repair.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Corpus Cavernosum of Penis?
The corpus cavernosum of the penis is one of a pair of dorsolateral expandable cylinders of vascular erectile tissue forming the primary structural foundation of the penile shaft. Anchored proximally to the ischiopubic rami by the crura and encased within the thick, inextensible tunica albuginea, its cavernous spaces (lacunae) engorge with arterial blood during parasympathetic-mediated erection.
Why is the Corpus Cavernosum of Penis clinically important?
Penile fracture involves traumatic rupture of the engorged tunica albuginea during sexual activity, producing an audible crack, acute detumescence, and eggplant hematoma requiring urgent surgical repair.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details