Chapter 27 the penis Flashcards
What is the function of the penis?
it deposits semen into the vagina. half of it is an internal root and half is the externally visible shaft and glans.
What is the glans of the penis?
it is the expanded head at the distal end of the penis with the external urethral orifice at its tip (the opening of the urethra).
What is the size of the external portion of the penish?
it is 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) long and 3cm in diameter when flaccid. When erect, penis are 13-18 cm (5-7 inches) long and 4 cm in diameter
What is the skin on the penis referred to as?
prepuce (foreskin)
What is smegma?
a creamy secretion made up of exfoliated epithelial cells and fluid accumulated beneath the foreskin (prepuce)
What is the frenulum?
it is a ventral fold of tissue located at the proximal margin of the glans that anchors down the foreskin
(the tip of the penis where the foreskin attaches)
What kind of cells are found in the mucosa of the adult prepuce?
dendritic cells which are a component of the immune system. They help protect this part of the body from infection
What are two viruses that can enter through dendritic cells of the penis and those of the vagina?
HIV and AIDS
What are the 3 main cylindrical bodies of the shaft called?
erectile tissues which fill with blood during sexual arousal and account for its enlargement and erection.
What is the corpus spongiosum?
one of the erectile tissues that passes along the ventral side of the penis and encloses the penile urethra.
What is the corpus cavernosum?
It is proximal to the glans, on each side of the dorsal side of the penis. Each one is ensheathed in a fibrous tunica albuginea. They are separated by a median septum.
What are cavernous spaces of erectile tissue?
they are tiny blood sinuses
What are the spaces between the cavernous spaces called and what are they made up of?
trabeculae and they are composed of connective tissue and smooth trabecular muscle
