[Arterial vascularization of the human bulbo-uretral glands]

The study based on the dissection of 79 specimens of bulbo-urethral glands describes their arterial vascularisation. 1. The glands receive their main arterial vascularization from the artery of the bulb of the penis. The vessel reaches the surface of the gland from above and from both sides. 2. Supplementary sources of vascularization may take their origin from the int. pudendal artery, urethral art., perineal art., or an anastomosis between the cystic inferior art. and the pudendal int. artery. 3. The artery of the bulb of penis is variable. It may divide into two (often) or three (seldom) branches penetrating the bulb of the penis. One case with two arteries of the bulb (both from the pudendal int. artery), has been described. 4. The glandular arterioles ("short or intraglandular" ones) take their origine inside the gland (type I) or exist as supplementary arteries ("long or extracapsular" ones) branches from near arterial truncs (type II). If the gland is placed in the musculature of the uro-genital diaphragm and it is well separated from it by a connective-tissue capsule, the capsule receives its own ("capsular") branches, which are a supplementary source of vascularization for the gland (type III). 5. The existence of "long or extracapsular" branches is in connection with lobation of the gland. Every lobule receives its own branch from an "extracapsular" artery. 6. Only one slight right-left assymetry was observed.