64 - A Rare Discovery: Ossified Penile Tissue in a Human Cadaver

Poster Board Number: 64
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Co-authors:

Keanan Sather, BS - Modern Human Anatomy Master's Program - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; Lisa Lee, Ph.D - Associate Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine; Chelsea Lohman, Ph.D - Assistant Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine

Abstract Body : The baculum, a bone within the penis, is found in certain primates, rodents, bats, carnivores, and some insectivores. While chimpanzees and bonobos, humans’ closest evolutionary relatives, need a baculum for penetrative intercourse, the presence of bone in a human penis is indicative of a pathological process. There are only 40 recorded cases (all but one pathologic) of penile ossification in humans, thought to be rare sequela of local trauma, diabetes mellitus, and end-stage renal disease. Another potentially related pathology is Induratio Penis Plastica (IPP), plaque buildup and fibrous thickening of the penile tunica albuginea. This study describes the gross anatomy and histopathology of ossified human penile tissue incidentally found during dissection in a graduate gross anatomy course in a 79-year-old donor with history of glioblastoma, coronary artery disease, and type II diabetes. The donor consented to educational and research use of their remains. During bisection of the penis, hardened masses, 1.5 cm and 3.0 cm in length, were identified in the ventral tunica albuginea of the right corpus cavernosum, 8.5 cm and 7.2 cm from the tip of the penis, respectively. The corpus spongiosum and its tunica albuginea appeared unremarkable. The right half of the penis was serially sectioned and regions containing hardened tissue were sampled for examination. Histological processing was completed by the CU Anschutz Research Histology Laboratory using standard protocol. Microscopy confirmed the presence of bone in the ventral tunica albuginea of corpus cavernosum. The largest bony segment revealed two lamellar bone plates flanking unilocular adipose tissue. While some regions resembled spongy bone, other regions had osteon-like organization surrounding a central blood vessel. Unlike typical bone, the sizes and spacing of the lacunae and osteocytes were not uniform; this is akin to histological presentation of other cases of ossified penile tissue. The tunica albuginea near the bone was composed of thickened dense connective tissue arranged in two distinct layers consistent with hyalinized tissue plaques of IPP. Other histological findings from the donor’s penile tissue include significant vascular atherosclerosis, stenosis, and calcifications – features not clear during dissection but consistent with disclosed medical conditions. Literature on the 40 reported cases of penile ossification also reports type II diabetes and associated diabetic vasculopathies as common comorbidities. This study contributes a unique case study of ossified penile tissue to the sparse literature on the topic and shows the feasibility of amplifying the educational and research use of the cadaveric donors while supporting inquiry-driven learning and multidisciplinary collaboration.