Blood flow to the corpus cavernosum penis in the bull and goat buck during penile quiescence

Bulls and bucks were used to study the blood flow into and out of the corpus cavernosum penis (CCP) during the non-erect state of the penis. When contrast medium was injected into the dorsal artery of the penis in a bull cadaver and into surgically implanted catheters of anesthetized bucks, it flowed into the cavernous spaces of the CCP via the penetrating arteries. When contrast medium was injected directly into the CCP of the bull and buck there was no evidence of vascular exits along the body of the penis. The only venous outlets from the CCP were in the crus penis area. In the non-erect penis the vascular pressure within the CCP was 17.8 mm Hg higher in the bull and 8.3 mm Hg higher in the buck at the glans area than the crus area. During the non-erect state of the penis most of the blood flow to the CCP is from the dorsal artery of the penis via the penetrating arteries. The results showed that the pressure gradient provides the means for flow of blood from the glans area toward the base or crus penis area. This flow prevents platelet aggregation and clot formation and provides nutrition to local tissue during the long periods of non-erection. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.