Quick Facts
Location: Shaft of penis.
Arterial Supply: Artery of bulb of penis.
Venous Drainage: Deep dorsal vein of penis.
Innervation: Cavernous nerve.
Lymphatic Drainage: Internal iliac lymph nodes.
Related parts of the anatomy
Structure/Morphology
The corpus spongiosum of the penis is an erectile tissue that surrounds the spongy part of the male urethra within the penile shaft. The proximal part of the corpus spongiosum is enlarged to form the bulb of penis. Cavernous spaces in the corpus spongiosum are dilatable spaces that fill with blood during erection.
Anatomical Relations
The corpus spongiosum is located on the ventral surface of the penile shaft, whereas the corpus cavernosum is located on the dorsal surface. The spongy (penile) urethra travels throughout the length of the corpus spongiosum.
Function
Cavernous spaces in the corpus spongiosum fill with blood during erection to prevent the urethra from closing to allow for ejaculation.
Arterial Supply
The corpus spongiosum is supplied by the artery of bulb of penis, which is a branch of the perineal artery.
Venous Drainage
The corpus spongiosum of the penis is drained by the deep dorsal vein of the penis. These veins ultimately drain into the internal pudendal veins.
Innervation
The cavernous nerve on the dorsum of the penis runs from the prostatic plexus to supply the erectile tissue of the corpus cavernous and corpus spongiosum.
Lymphatic Drainage
The lymph of the corpus spongiosum drains into the internal iliac lymph nodes.
List of Clinical Correlates
—Urethral catheterization
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Spongiosum
A Cowper duct syringocele is a congenital or acquired dilatation of the Cowper gland's duct in the bulb of the corpus spongiosum.
