Electrophysiologic activity of the tunica albuginea and corpora cavernosa: possible role of tunica albuginea in the erectile mechanism.
BACKGROUND
It is claimed that the tunica albuginea (TA) shares in the erectile mechanism by compressing the emissary veins passing through it. However, the TA does not contain smooth muscle fibers.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the hypothesis that TA lacks a contractile activity on the emissary veins passing through it.


METHODS
Fourteen healthy male volunteers (mean age 35.2 +/- 4.3 years) were studied. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the TA and corpora cavernosa (CC) was individually recorded in the flaccid and erectile phases by EMG needle electrodes. Recording was performed in the upper, middle, and lower third of the TA and CC on one and then on the contralateral side.


METHODS
The TA lacks a contractile activity on the emissary veins passing through it.


RESULTS
The EMG of the CC in the flaccid phase recorded regular slow waves and random action potentials. The wave variables in the erectile phase exhibited a significant decrease (P < 0.01) compared with the variables in the flaccid phase of the same subject. The TA EMG showed no electric waves in the flaccid or erectile phases. These recordings were similar from the upper-, middle-, and lower-third of the penis, and were reproducible from the contralateral CC.


CONCLUSIONS
Electric waves were recorded from the CC in the flaccid phase; wave variables decreased at erection. In contrast, the TA showed no electric waves in the flaccid or erectile phases. It appears that the TA acts as a CC covering sheet which expands passively at erection, and shares in compressing the subtunical venular plexus between it and the tumescent CC.
Shafik
Ahmed
A
Faculty of Medicine Cairo University--Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: shafik@ahmedshafik.com.
Shafik
Asmail I
AI
Faculty of Medicine Cairo University--Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Cairo, Egypt.
El Sibai
Olfat
O
Faculty of Medicine Cairo University--Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Cairo, Egypt.
Shafik
Ali A
AA
Faculty of Medicine Cairo University--Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Cairo, Egypt.
D000200:Action Potentials; D000328:Adult; D004534:Egypt; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values