ANATOMY AND VASCULARIZATION OF PENIS AND URETHRA

The exact knowledge of the topographic anatomy of the urethra as well as the macro- and microcirculation of the penis [6] are the basics of reconstructive urethral surgery. Adherence to the fundamentals and pri nciples of tissue transfer [5] are necessary to fascilitate conditions for successful treatment of the various disorders of the male urethra . Mutural description of the anatomy of the male urethra in conjunctio n with external male genitals is necessary because of developmental si milarities as well as the close anatomical relationship. The arterial and venous blood supply of the urethra and the penis have to be taken into account if vascularized flaps from the penile skin or the prepuce are used in urethral reconstruction. The dual arterial and venous vas cularity of the genital skin is of fundamental importance to a success ful outcome of the operative treatment. The purpose of this article is , to summarize the relevant anatomical knowledge of reconstructive ure thral surgery.