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ABSTRACT Introduction: Although nerves and vessels of the penis play important role in erection, there are few studies on their development in human fetus. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to analyze, quantitatively, in the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum, the development of the nerves and vessels in the fetal penis at different gestational ages. Material and Methods: Fifty-six fresh, macroscopically normal human fetuses aged from 13 to 36 weeks post-conception (WPC) were used. Gestational age was determined by the foot length criterion. Penises were immediately fixed in 10% formalin, and routinely processed for paraffin embedding, after which tissue sections from the mid-shaft were obtained. We used immunohistochemical staining to analyze the nerves and vessels in the corpus cavernous and in the corpus spongiosum. These elements were identified and quantified as percentage by using the Image-J software. Results: The quantitative analysis showed that the percentage of nerves varied from 3.03% to 20.35% in the corpora cavernosa and from 1.89% to 23.88% in the corpus spongiosum. The linear regression analysis indicated that nerves growth (incidence) in the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum correlated significantly and positively with fetal age (r2=0.9421, p<0.0001) and (r2=0.9312, p<0.0001), respectively, during the whole fetal period studied. Also, the quantitative analysis showed that the percentage of vessels varies from 2.96% to 12.86% in the corpora cavernosa and from 3.62% to 14.85% in the corpus spongiosum. The linear regression analysis indicated that vessels growth (appearance) in the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum correlated significantly and positively with fetal age (r2=0.8722, p<0.0001) and (r2=0.8218, p<0.0001), respectively, during the whole fetal period studied. In addition, the linear regression analysis demonstrated a more intense growth rate of nerves in the corpus spongiosum during the 2nd trimester of gestation, when compared with nerves in the corpora cavernosa. In addition, the linear regression analysis demonstrated a more intense growth rate of vessels in the corpus spongiosum when compared with the corpora cavernosa, during the whole fetal period studied. Conclusions: In the fetal period, the human penis undergoes major developmental changes, notably in the content and distribution of nerves and vessels. We found strong correlation between nerves and vessels growth (amount) with fetal age, both in the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum. There is significant greater proportional number of nerves than vessels during the whole fetal period studied. Also, nerves and vessels grow in a more intense rate than that of the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum areas. Introduction erection fetus Therefore quantitatively ages Methods Fiftysix Fifty six fresh 1 3 postconception post conception WPC (WPC criterion 10 formalin embedding midshaft mid shaft obtained ImageJ Image J software Results 303 03 3.03 2035 20 35 20.35 189 89 1.89 2388 23 88 23.88 incidence (incidence r2=0.9421, r209421 r r2 0 9421 (r2=0.9421 p<0.0001 p00001 p 0001 r2=0.9312, r209312 9312 (r2=0.9312 p<0.0001, , respectively studied Also 296 2 96 2.96 1286 12 86 12.86 362 62 3.62 1485 14 85 14.85 appearance (appearance r2=0.8722, r208722 8722 (r2=0.8722 r2=0.8218, r208218 8218 (r2=0.8218 addition nd gestation Conclusions changes amount (amount areas 30 3.0 203 20.3 18 8 1.8 238 23.8 r2=0.9421 r20942 942 (r2=0.942 p<0.000 p0000 000 r2=0.9312 r20931 931 (r2=0.931 29 9 2.9 128 12.8 6 3.6 148 14.8 r2=0.8722 r20872 872 (r2=0.872 r2=0.8218 r20821 821 (r2=0.821 3. 20. 1. 23. r2=0.942 r2094 94 (r2=0.94 p<0.00 p000 00 r2=0.931 r2093 93 (r2=0.93 2. 12. 14. r2=0.872 r2087 87 (r2=0.87 r2=0.821 r2082 82 (r2=0.82 r2=0.94 r209 (r2=0.9 p<0.0 p00 r2=0.93 r2=0.87 r208 (r2=0.8 r2=0.82 r2=0.9 r20 (r2=0. p<0. p0 r2=0.8 r2=0. (r2=0 p<0 r2=0 (r2= p< r2= (r2 (r