Elastic fibre system in the shaft of adult human penis
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Date
2015Author
Gichangi, Peter
Mugania, Sara
Beda, Otieno
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Elastic fibres play a central role in functioning of the penis. Detailed animal studies have
quantified
elastic and collagen fibre content in
rat and
rabbit penis. Though rabbit model i
s
similar to human penis, it is important to d
etermine
whether findings in rabbits are
reproducible in humans.
To
determine the distribution
and volumetric density
of elastic
fibres in
the corpus cavernosum (CC), corpus spongiosum (CS) and tunica albuginea
(TA) of
the
shaft of adult
human penis. Male cadaveric specimens from penile mid
-
shaft were
obtained
and processed routinely
for histological studies using Weigert’s resorsin fuchsin
stain.
CC TA has an external longitudinal and inner circular layer.
Buck’s fascia
has
principally longitudinal
elastic
fibres
.
There are multiple blood vessels in CC, CS and TA.
Elastic fibres are abundant in the mid
-
shaft of human penis
. The highest volumetric density
of elastic fibres is found in the CS
(40%)
.
The elasti
c fibres in the CS are mainly longitudinal
in orientation. There is an elaborate elastic fibre meshwork in the sub
-
mucosal layer of
urethral epithelium
, surrounding para
-
urethral glands and blood vessels
found in the
mid
-
shaft
of human penis
.
Elastic fib
re
content
in the human
CS
of the urethra is higher than in
CC
and
TA
. Their
concentrations around the sub
-
mucosal zone of the urethra epithelium
suggest
these fibres may have an important role in the
function of urethra both for
ejaculation and passage of
urine
Citation
Gichangi, P., Mugania, S., O Beda(2015)Elastic fibre system in the shaft of adult human penis. Anatomy Journal of Africa. 4(1) : 466 – 4 75Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10377]