The Penis

Question 1

What passes down the penis?

Answer 1

• the urethra

Question 2

What does the penis consist of?

Answer 2

• special spongy tissue (erectile tissue)

Question 3

What is there running the length of the penis?

Answer 3

• three sections of erectile tissue

Question 4

Where are the sections of erectile tissue situated?

Answer 4

• two sections are situated on the dorsal side
• one section is situated on the ventral side

Question 5

Which sections of erectile tissue are situated on the dorsal side of the penis?

Answer 5

• the corpus cavernosa

Question 6

Which section of erectile tissue is situated on the ventral side of the penis?

Answer 6

• the corpus spongiosum

Question 7

What is the primary mechanism that brings about an erection?

Answer 7

• the dilations of dorsal and central arteries supplying blood to the penis

Question 8

How does the dilation of the dorsal and central arteries supplying blood to the penis bring about an erection?

Answer 8

• the dilation allows more blood to fill the three spongy erectile tissue chambers
• causing the penis to lengthen and stiffen

Question 9

What is unable to occur without an erection?

Answer 9

• without an erection, sperm cannot be transferred to the female’s vagina during sexual intercourse

Question 10

What is the function of the penis?

Answer 10

• to deposit semen with sperm into the female’s vagina during copulation

Question 11

What is distinctive about the human penis in terms of the erectile bone?

Answer 11

• the human male is the only mammal that has no erectile bone in the penis
• it relies entirely on engorgement with blood to reach its erect state

Question 12

What is distinctive about the human penis in terms of attachment to the abdominal wall?

Answer 12

• the human penis is not attached to the abdominal wall but hangs free
• this is in contrast to most other mammals, where the penis is stored internally until erect

Question 13

What is the erectile bone found in other mammals known as?

Answer 13

• the baculum