The corpora cavernosa are the two parallel cylinders of erectile tissue that form the upper bulk of the penis. Each begins at the back as a crus attached to the ischiopubic ramus, then the two lie side by side in the shaft, separated by an incomplete septum. They are sponge-like spaces lined by smooth muscle and wrapped in a tough tunica albuginea.
| Location | Dorsal part of the penis; crura attached to the ischiopubic rami and covered by ischiocavernosus |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Cavernous nerves (parasympathetic S2-S4); Sympathetic fibres |
| Blood Supply | Deep artery of the penis (cavernosal artery); Dorsal artery of the penis (branches) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Fill with blood under pressure to produce penile rigidity during erection.
Filling of these spaces with blood under high pressure produces the rigidity of erection. An erection lasting more than four hours (priapism), often from sickle cell disease or medications, starves the tissue of oxygen and can cause permanent damage. Drugs for erectile dysfunction work by boosting smooth muscle relaxation in the cavernosal tissue.
A prolonged, often painful erection unrelated to sexual stimulation that needs emergency treatment to prevent fibrosis.
Tear of the tunica albuginea around a corpus cavernosum during vigorous intercourse.
Scarring of the erectile tissue after priapism or injury, leading to erectile dysfunction and shortening.
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