Dorsal penile artery (DPA)

The dorsal penile artery is a paired terminal branch of the internal pudendal artery that travels along the dorsal surface of the penis, deep to the fascia of Buck (StatPearls: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544242/). Its primary biological function is to provide oxygenated blood to the glans penis, the corpus spongiosum, and the penile skin, contributing to the engorgement of the glans during the tumescent phase of erection (PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10466160/). Although the deep (cavernosal) arteries are the primary drivers of erectile rigidity, the dorsal penile artery is vital for maintaining the health of the distal penile tissues and supporting overall vascular inflow. In the context of disease, atherosclerosis or traumatic injury to this vessel can result in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction or glans ischemia (PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33454114/). While the artery itself is an anatomical structure rather than a molecular target, it contains the smooth muscle cells that express therapeutic targets like phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) and alpha-adrenergic receptors. Pharmacological agents such as sildenafil or phentolamine interact with these molecular targets within the arterial wall to modulate vascular tone and improve blood flow (PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sildenafil).

Other names

Arteria dorsalis penisDorsal artery of the penis

Vasodilation of penile arteries via inhibition of PDE5 or activation of prostaglandin receptors in vascular smooth muscle.