Elastic fibre concentration in the tunica albuginea of corpora cavernosa and nocturnal tumescence monitoring.
The tunica albuginea of the corpus cavernosum provides the latter with a fibrous framework and plays a significant role in erectile function. Being rich in elastic fibres the tunica albuginea is able to resist overstretching of the corpus at raised levels of intracavernous pressure, compressing the sub-algunineum venous reticulum and promoting the maintenance of erection. Results are reported here on assessment of the concentration of elastic fibres in tunica albuginea in relation to frequency of nocturnal erection, tumescence and penile length and rigidity. Significant correlations were demonstrated between concentration of elastic fibres and duration of nocturnal erection (P< 0.0001), rigidity at TIP(P< 0.001), and rigidity at BASE (P< 0.001). The importance of the structural soundness of the tunica albuginea for achievement of satisfactory erection was thereby underlined.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012890:Sleep