Summary
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.
Résumé
Les veines du pénis sont incriminées dans certaines dysfonctions érectiles. Le but de ce travail était de préciser l'anatomie descriptive et fonctionnelle de ces veines. 25 pénis ont été prélevés et les veines étudiées par différentes techniques anatomiques et histologiques. Les veines superficielles issues des enveloppes se drainent dans la veine dorsale superficielle qui dans les trois quarts des cas se jette dans la grande veine saphène gauche. Les veines du réseau profond, cheminant sous le fascia profond du pénis, sont issues des formations érectiles et peuvent être réparties en deux systèmes ; l'un antérieur et supérieur et l'autre postérieur et inférieur. Le système antérieur et supérieur comprend les veines du gland qui vont constituer la veine dorsale profonde ; cette dernière reçoit le sang de la partie moyenne du corps spongieux et de la partie libre des corps caverneux essentiellement par les veines circonflexes. Elle se termine dans le plexus pre-prostatique. Le système postérieur et inférieur, issu de la partie postérieure des formations érectiles est constitué par les veines bulbaires, caverneuses et crurales qui se drainent vers le plexus pre-prostatique et les veines pudendales internes. Des anastomoses relient les deux réseaux superficiel et profond. L'étude de la structure des veines du système profond montre la présence de coussinets musculaires dans lesquels nous avons mis en évidence une innervation adrénergique. L'ensemble de ces données est confronté à celles de la littérature qui montrent des variations essentiellement numériques. La place des veines dans les mécanismes de l'érection est discutée.
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Moscovici, J., Galinier, P., Hammoudi, S. et al. Contribution to the study of the venous vasculature of the penis. Surg Radiol Anat 21, 193–199 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01630901
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01630901