The corporo-glans ligament: description and functional significance of a ligament connecting the corpora cavernosa to the glans penis

Abstract

The two corpora cavernosa (CC) end blindly under cover of the glans penis (GP). The method of attachment of the CC to the GP could not be traced in the literature. The current communication investigated the hypothesis of a ligamentous attachment existing between the two corporal ends and the GP. In all, 18 male cadaveric specimens were studied by direct dissection and histologically. Six were neonates and 12 adults (mean age 32.3710.6 s.d. y). After examining and photographing the connection between the CC and GP, sagittal, parasagittal, and coronal sections of the connection were stained and studied microscopically. A triangular fibrous tissue band connected the distal blind ends of the two CC with the GP. The base of this band was attached to the tunica albuginea of the two CC, while the apex was continuous with the fibrous septa between the sinusoids of the cavernous tissue of the GP. Microscopically, the ligament consisted of collagen and elastic fibers; in some sections, the collagen fibers of the tunica albuginea were continuous with those of the band. A band of collagen and elastic fibers could be identified connecting the two CC to the GP; we term it the 'corporo-glans ligament'. This ligament presumably affords the connection with rigidity, flexibility, and tissue strength. We suggest that it firmly connects the GP to the CC during penile thrusting. Further studies are required to assess the possible role of this ligament in erectile dysfunction.

Ligamentous structures in human glans penis

“…When the CC is detached from the CS by blunt dissections, a distal cap of the glans is not easily divided from an apex of the CC due to firm attachments via a fibrous frame (Shafik et al. ; Hsu et al. ).…”

Detailed Anatomy of the Corpora-Glans Ligament via the P45 Plastination Method

“…The fibrous sheath of the body merges the three parts as a unit during erection and penile propulsion (Tamaki, 1992). Compared with the TA of the CC, the TA of the cavernous body deep in the glans was thinner and less tough (Shafik et al, 2004). The distal ends of the two CC were embedded in one of the sockets of the GP (Goldstein et al, 1982).…”

“…The top of the CC is covered with glans cap (Hsieh et al, 2012;Kureel et al, 2015). The CS and the two CC are surrounded by tunica albuginea (TA) (Shafik et al, 2004). It is reported that there is connective tissue between the cavernous body and the glans of the penis, which is called the corporo-glans ligament (Shafik et al, 2004).…”

“…The CS and the two CC are surrounded by tunica albuginea (TA) (Shafik et al, 2004). It is reported that there is connective tissue between the cavernous body and the glans of the penis, which is called the corporo-glans ligament (Shafik et al, 2004). The mechanism of penile erection involves hemodynamics and is a complex physiological process.…”

The mystery of Jacob Henle's ‘septum glandis’

“…The authors have clearly documented the macroscopic and microscopic morphological features of a central ligamentous structure penetrating the human glans penis by the course of the fossa navicularis. This structure has also been named the ‘distal ligament’ or ‘corporo‐glans ligament’ (Shafik et al., ; Hsu et al., ). To my knowledge, Dr Friedrich Gustav Jacob Henle (1809–1885) was first to describe this median fibrous tissue coming from the corpus spongiosum surrounding the fossa navicularis as ‘septum glandis’, and its extensions as ‘upper and lower median septum’ (Henle, ; Fig.…”