title: Architecture of the Corpus Spongiosum: An Anatomical Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urethral reconstruction is performed for urethral stricture or hypospadias correction. Research on urethral tissue engineering is increasing. Because the corpus spongiosum is important to support the urethra, urethral tissue engineering should ideally be combined with reconstruction of a corpus spongiosum. We describe a method to visualize and measure the architecture of the corpus spongiosum, which is needed for scaffold design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The penis was dissected from 2 unembalmed male cadavers. One penis was flaccid and the other was erect, as induced by saline infusion. Both were frozen in ice. At 6 sites sections were obtained in the transverse and frontal directions. After digitalizing the stained sections the images were edited, area measurements were taken and a 3-dimensional reconstruction was made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In transverse sections the mean area of the vascular lumen was 60% and 77% in the flaccid and the erect corpus spongiosum, and in frontal sections it was 53% and 74%, respectively. This indicated a 129% transverse increase and a 140% longitudinal increase in erection. Section sites did not essentially differ except in the glans penis. Frontal sections showed larger vascular cavities and more incomplete septae than transverse sections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides what is to our knowledge novel information on corpus spongiosum architecture, which is relevant for scaffold design in tissue engineering. The study protocol can be used in future research with a larger number of specimens and more extensive analyses.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ottenhof
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.degraaf-4@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Timo F W
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Soeterik
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lidewij M F H
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Neeter
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zilverschoon
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Matty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spinder
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J L H Ruud
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ronald L A W
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bleys
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology and Anatomy (MZ, MS, RLAWB), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laetitia M O
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Kort
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010413:Penis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: blood vessels; models, anatomic; penis; tissue engineering; urethra