The dorsal artery of the penis may be damaged in traumatic amputation of the penis and repairing the dorsal artery surgically prevents skin loss, but it is not essential for sexual and urinary function.

[2] As it pierces the perineal membrane, it (depending upon the source) passes between the two layers of the suspensory ligament of the penis,[citation needed] or pierces the lateral lamina of the suspensory ligament of penis.

[1] It gives deep/perforating collateral branches to the corpus cavernosum penis[1] (despite this, its contribution to erectile function is inconsistent[citation needed]).

Through retrograde flow it helps supply the skin of the distal shaft.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 620 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)