The deep dorsal vein of the penis drains deoxygenated blood away from the glans, which is the external head of the sexual organ. The vein runs the length of the shaft, and it eventually flows into the prostatic venous plexus near a man's prostate gland. From there, the deoxygenated blood must travel through the venal system until it arrives at the center of the circulatory system for reoxygenation in the lungs and recirculation through the left side of the heart. The vein is not the same as a similarly named artery, which transits oxygenated blood to the glans. However, the deep dorsal vein of the penis runs a course close to its arterial counterpart. It also runs directly beneath the superficial dorsal vein of the penis. However, a layer of deep fascia separates the two venal blood vessels. Since the penis is unique to male anatomy, both veins are also unique to the male body. For comparative purposes, the closest relation in the female body would include the veins servicing the clitoris.