Retractor muscle of the penis

The Musculus retractor penis ( " retractor of the penis " ) is a strip of paired muscle of the penis in mammals, which is primarily composed of smooth muscle. It originates at the bottom of the first caudal vertebrae and attaches to the base of the penis shaft. It is innervated by nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system from the lumbar part of the spinal cord, which pass through the pudendal nerve to the muscle. The retractor penis muscle pulls the penis back into the prepuce and stabilized in animals with a sigmidförmigen curvature in the penis shaft (eg, Artiodactyla ) this bend. During erection the muscle relaxes.

The homologous muscle in female animals is the musculus retractor clitoris.

About a Pudendusblockade the muscle can be brought to relaxation, so that the penis prolapse and an investigation is accessible. The area of the projection of the musculus retractor penis is the most common site of urinary stones in domestic cattle.