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Penis

Erectile Bodies

The penis contains three cylinder shaped structures made of spongy tissue. All three structures are capable of engorging with blood delivered by one arteriole. There are two matching cylinders called corpora cavernosa; the term ‘corpora’ signifies body in plural form. There are two corpora cavernosa: one on the right and one on the left.

Arterioles

The central area of each corpora cavernosa contains one arteriole, which dilates, allowing blood to flow into the erectile tissue.

Corpus Spongiosum

Additionally, there is the corpus spongiosum, which encases the urethra.

Microscopic image of a penile cross-section. Two large, pink, sponge-like areas (corpora cavernosa) occupy the upper two thirds of the image. The bottom portion shows another, smaller spongiousum. The corpora are surrounded by layers of pink connective tissue and blood vessels to keep the penis erec
Figure 1: Microscopic view of penile corpora
Arteriole in an corpus cavernosa of the penis.
Figure 2: Arteriole in one corpus cavernosa.
Figure 3: Urethra embedded in corpus spongiosum of penis.

Figure 1, 2, and 3: Penis cross section, human, H&E, Slide 286
All by University of Michigan Histology, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

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Epididymis
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Corpora (luteum and albicans)

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