Tunica albuginea (penis)
Encyclopedia
The tunica albuginea is the fibrous envelope of the corpora cavernosa penis. It consists of approximately 5% elastin
, an extensible tissue that is primarily made up of the amino acids glycine, valine, alanine, and proline. The majority of the remaining tissue is collagen
, which is made up of lysine, proline, glycine, alanine, and other amino acids .
The tunica albuginea is directly involved in maintaining an erection; that is due to Buck's fascia
constricting the deep dorsal vein of the penis, preventing blood from leaving and thus sustaining the erect state.
The trabeculæ of the tunica albuginea are more delicate, nearly uniform in size, and the meshes between them smaller than in the corpora cavernosa penis: their long diameters, for the most part, corresponding with that of the penis
.
The external envelope or outer coat of the corpus spongiosum is formed partly of unstriped muscular fibers, and a layer of the same tissue immediately surrounds the canal of the urethra
.
Elastin
Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that is elastic and allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Elastin helps skin to return to its original position when it is poked or pinched. Elastin is also an important load-bearing tissue in the bodies of...
, an extensible tissue that is primarily made up of the amino acids glycine, valine, alanine, and proline. The majority of the remaining tissue is collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
, which is made up of lysine, proline, glycine, alanine, and other amino acids .
The tunica albuginea is directly involved in maintaining an erection; that is due to Buck's fascia
Buck's fascia
Buck's fascia is a layer of deep fascia covering the penis.It is also known as the "deep fascia of the penis".It is also sometimes simply called the "fascia of the penis", and the Terminologia Anatomica is simply "fascia penis"....
constricting the deep dorsal vein of the penis, preventing blood from leaving and thus sustaining the erect state.
The trabeculæ of the tunica albuginea are more delicate, nearly uniform in size, and the meshes between them smaller than in the corpora cavernosa penis: their long diameters, for the most part, corresponding with that of the penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
.
The external envelope or outer coat of the corpus spongiosum is formed partly of unstriped muscular fibers, and a layer of the same tissue immediately surrounds the canal of the urethra
Urethra
In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...
.
