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Corpus cavernosum of penis: anatomy, location and function

The corpora cavernosa are the paired columns of erectile tissue forming the dorsal part of the penis. They fill with blood during erection, making the penis rigid.

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Highlighted in the model: Corpus cavernosum of penis. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Corpus cavernosum of penis at a glance

What it is
The corpora cavernosa are the paired columns of erectile tissue forming the dorsal part of the penis.
Location
They lie on the dorsal and lateral aspect of the penile shaft, side by side, surrounded by the tunica albuginea.
Function
They fill with blood during erection, making the penis rigid.
Body system
Reproductive · single, midline structure
FMA ID
FMA19618 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • Supplied by deep arteries of the penis (from the internal pudendal artery).
  • Parasympathetic nerves cause vasodilation and erection.

Clinical relevance

Erectile dysfunction is treated with PDE-5 inhibitors that enhance vasodilation.

Structures next to the corpus cavernosum of penis

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Corpus cavernosum of penis (FMA19618). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §27.1 Anatomy and Physiology of the Testicular Reproductive System. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Related anatomy

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.