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 anesthet ized bucks, it flowed into the cavernous spaces of the CCP via the pen etrating arteries. When contrast medium was injected directly into the CCP of the bull and buck there was no evidence of vascular exits alon g 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 with in the CCP was 17.8 mm Hg higher in the bull and 8.3 mm Hg higher in t he buck at the glans area than the crus area. During the non-erect sta te of the penis most of the blood flow to the CCP is from the dorsal a rtery of the penis via the penetrating arteries. The results showed th at the pressure gradient provides the means for flow of blood from the glans area toward the base or crus penis area. This flow prevents pla telet aggregation and clot formation and provides nutrition to local t issue during the long periods of non-erection. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Sc ience Inc.