Tunica albuginea (penis) | |
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Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | tunica albuginea corporum cavernosorum, tunica albuginea corporis spongiosi |
TA98 |
A09.4.01.017 A09.4.01.018 |
TA2 | 3593 |
FMA | 19630 |
Anatomical terminology |
The tunica albuginea is the fibrous envelope that extends the length of the corpora cavernosa penis and corpus spongiosum penis. It is a bi-layered structure that includes an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer. [1]
The trabeculae of the tunica albuginea are more delicate, nearly uniform in size, and the meshes between them smaller than in the corpora cavernosa penis: their long diameters, for the most part, corresponding with that of the penis.[ citation needed]
The external envelope or outer coat of the corpus spongiosum is formed partly of unstriped muscular fibers, and a layer of the same tissue immediately surrounds the canal of the urethra.[ citation needed]
It consists of approximately 5% elastin, with the remainder mostly consisting of collagen. [2]
The tunica albuginea is directly involved in maintaining an erection; that is due to Buck's fascia constricting the erection veins of the penis, preventing blood from leaving and thus sustaining the erect state.[ clarification needed][ citation needed]
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1250 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
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