The deep dorsal vein of the penis is a single midline vein lying under the deep (Buck) fascia between the paired dorsal arteries and dorsal nerves. It drains the glans and corpora cavernosa through circumflex and emissary veins. It passes below the pubic symphysis to empty into the prostatic venous plexus.
| Origin | Veins of the glans and the corpora cavernosa, through circumflex and emissary veins |
|---|---|
| Course | Runs in the midline on the dorsum of the penis beneath the deep fascia and passes between the arcuate pubic ligament and the transverse perineal ligament into the prostatic venous plexus |
| Branches |
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During erection, the expanding corpora compress the small emissary veins that feed into the deep dorsal vein, trapping blood (the veno-occlusive mechanism). Failure of this mechanism, called venous leak, is one cause of erectile dysfunction. The vein and its continuation in the dorsal venous complex must be controlled in radical prostatectomy, and it may be injured in penile fracture.
Inadequate compression of the veins draining the corpora, including those leading to the deep dorsal vein, means erections are lost quickly. It is diagnosed with penile Doppler ultrasound or cavernosography.
A tear in the tunica albuginea during forceful bending of the erect penis may be accompanied by injury to the deep dorsal vein, causing sudden swelling and bruising that usually needs surgical repair.
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