Knowing whether you are limited by Dorsal Thickening/Septum

"The upper fibers of the suspensory ligament pass downward from the lower end of the linea alba, and the lower fibers from the symphysis pubis; together they form a strong fibrous band, which extends to the upper surface of the root, where it blends with the fascial sheath of the organ." - http://www.bart … om/107/262.html

I also can feel this “cord-like feature” on the dorsal side of my penis.

Based on my research I believe it is the complex of tunica/septum, dorsal nerve, and associated tissues that runs dorsally along the penis. The fact that mine disappears about 1/4” before the edge of my glans correlates well with my supposition.

It is not taut when my penis is totally flaccid. My BP flaccid is 4.5”. My BP flaccid stretched is 7.25”. Therefore this “cord like feature” by all the laws of physics must stretch to accomodate the change in penile length from 4.5”-7.25”.

One of the things I think contributes to the idea that this “cord” does not stretch, is that the spongiosum (at least mine) has increased in size more than the tunica/cavernosa. This makes it look like the penis is being held back by the lateral length on the dorsal side between the pubis and the edge of the glans.

My 2 cents.

Indeed. This is what Modesto was referring to earlier when he said that he believes some cases of this “cord” have a high elastin to collagen ratio than others do which explains why some people are able to get pretty damn long BPFSL and retain a “stretchy” feeling of it and others aren’t.

I think we’re having a communication problem and actually may be experiencing the same thing. I can’t feel the “cord” either when my dick is flaccid and unstretched. The cord evidently collapses. I’ve read in numerous places that collagen does this—it collapses like an accordian when tension is released.

A good model for the “cord” is a string with an elastic band woven around it. Normally, the elastic causes the string to retract, but if you pull it the elastic will stretch until the overall length reaches that of the string, at which point it won’t stretch any further.

The “cord” we’re talking about only becomes palpable when the penis is stretched, i.e. when the elastic runs out and string becomes the limiting factor.

I think I found where I saw this. In this post I link to a study that illustrates how the suspensory lig "invests" into the tunica at the dorsal thickening. The abstract doesn’t do the topic justice, but the relevant section reads,

The suspensory apparatus consisted of separate ligamentous structures: the fundiform ligament, which is lateral, superficial and not adherent to the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa; the suspensory ligament properly so-called, further back, stretching between the pubis and the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa and consisting of two lateral, circumferential, and one median bundles, which circumscribed the dorsal vein of the penis. These structures were identifiable in MRI and their supporting role was evidenced during tests of erection. The suspensory ligament seemed to maintain the base of the penis in front of the pubis and to behave as a major point of support for the mobile portion of the penis during erection.

Here are some of my notes from the paper:

2. The suspensory ligament, from the front, is shaped like a triangle; it is narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. It includes a medial portion that splits in half and attaches directly to the tunica on either side of the dorsal vein. It also includes lateral portions that attach to the sides of the tunica and completely surround it, like a sling.

See this post, and read further for more info.

Interesting. I just checked out the forum thread you linked to…It’s a shame we can’t see the article you ordered. I should really start to get more familiar with PubMed, lol…It’s pretty amazing to me that the suspensory ligament is continuous with the tunica albuginea.

The part in your quote that references how the median bundle of the suspensory ligament circumscribes the dorsal vein blows my mind even more. I would have never thought that to be true. Maybe this is why some people can “see” the “cord”?

The two CC are enveloped with TA. Could it be that this ‘cord’ that you feel is the groove of the two CC? (See attached pic)

(note: it is a penis pic, evaluate if the thread shold be moved).

It doesn’t feel like a groove to me, Marinera. More like a tendon. Nice drawing, by the way.

It could be that in some people, where the two CC ‘knits’, instead than a groove the connective tissue of TA forms an excrescence, kinda a scar line, if it’s clear what I mean.

I’m saying this because I find hard to believe that some people have a tendon or such in the penis, where other people don’t have it, and also unlikely that there aren’t articles or pics that illustrate this cord, tendon or whatever.

You might enjoy looking at some of my pictures here, where you can see I’ve donated my body to science.

You asked earlier where the crura merge together to form the shaft. My guess (informed from these pictures and elsewhere), is right at the innermost edge of the pubic symphysis.

In my effort to understand this whole “cord versus no cord” argument, THIS is exactly where I hit the wall.

I just can’t see some people having it and some people not having it. Does not make sense to me whatsoever.

You can also see some “3D” shots just under the pubic bone here.

If there is any elastin (there must be because it does stretch flaccid to erect) then stretching the cord should result in more elastin and collagen production like in the rest of the tunica. That is the whole mechanism behind PE gains.

The only ‘limiting factor’ may be the dorsal nerve complex. Nerves will grow when put under tension, and/or associated tissues are stretched, else you would lose sensations in your skin when gaining weight; therefore it is not actually a limiting factor at all.

I think that everyone has it, but not everyone can feel it, possibly because it’s more of a limiting factor for some people than for others, or possibly because we haven’t explained adequately how to find it.

Here’s my hand drawing of how the ligs attach to the shaft, from the thread I linked to above: LigSketch.gif

Only the susp. lig attaches. The fundiform lig merely wraps around. The two “medial” legs of the susp. ligament merge with the tunica at the locations shown. The dorsal thickening then runs the length of the penis from the attachment points forward.

The penis should have a curved shape also, depending on where the ‘limiting factor’ is located. Actually, I don’t want to push the nerves of anyone, but this ‘limiting factor’ is just a supposition. There is nothing backuping the idea that this ‘cord’ that some people have and somebody don’t have is limiting anything.