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Circumcision & Normal Penis
Normal Penis
Circumcised Penis
Structures of the Penis
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The outer foreskin layer is
a continuation of the skin of the shaft of the penis.
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The inner foreskin layer is
not properly `skin', but mucocutaneous tissue of a unique type
found nowhere else on the body .
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The frenulum, or frenum, is
a connecting membrane on the underside of the penis, similar
to that beneath the tongue. When the penis is not erect, it
tightens to narrow the foreskin opening.
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During erection, the frenulum,
forms a ridge that goes all the way around, about halfway down
the shaft.
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The reddish or purplish glans
or glans penis (head of the penis) is smooth, shiny, moist and
extremely sensitive.
The foreskin has twelve
known functions, they are :
- To cover the mucosal surface of the glans
and inner foreskin
- To protect the infant's glans from feces
and ammonia in diapers
- To protect the glans penis from friction
and abrasion thoughout life
- To keep the glans moisturized and soft
- To lubricate the glans
- To provide an aid to masturbation and
foreplay
- To serve as an aid to penetration
- To reduce friction during intercourse
- To serve as erogenous tissue because of its
rich supply of erogenous receptors
Erection process:
Intact
penis
When fully retracted, the foreskin
is designed to cover essentially the entire penile shaft, yet is
loose enough to "glide". The ridged bands are situated about halfway
down the shaft, when the foreskin is retracted fully.
Note: In some cases, a
man may have difficulty retracting the foreskin. This is not an
indication for circumcision, because there are good alternative
treatments available that preserve the structure and function of
the foreskin.
Penile Stimulation
The most important components of
the physical erogenous stimulation of the penis during foreplay
and intercourse are the sensations from the foreskin, frenulum/frenar
band, and glans. These structures each have their own feeling, and
each contributes in its own way to the man's total experience of
lovemaking. It must be emphasized that emotional excitement is an
extremely important component of sexual enjoyment, and intensifies
the man's perception of any physical sensations from his penis.
The foreskin has
an inner and outer layer. The outer foreskin layer contains nerve
endings which respond to gentle touching during the early stages
of sexual arousal. This helps to trigger an erection. The nerves
of the inner and outer foreskin contribute to the experience of
penile stimulation, up to and including orgasm. These receptors
are stimulated by stretching, or when the foreskin rolls over
the surface of the glans during intercourse or masturbation.
The foreskin contains sensory
receptors called Meissner corpuscles. We believe that
these nerves, similar to nerve endings in the fingertips, are
there to provide pleasure, as well as fine sensory perception.
This seems to help a man to enjoy sex longer without ejaculating
prematurely, because he can more easily tell when he is approaching
the threshold of orgasm.
Stimulation of the frenulum
and frenar band results in intense pleasurable
feelings during arousal. The frenar band consists of a number
of "ridges", described by Dr. John Taylor. Sensations from these
structures during intercourse or masturbation are thought to be
the primary trigger of orgasm in the intact male
Dr. George Denniston writes
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| Circumcised Adult Penis |
Circumcised Adult Penis
(Erect State) |
The ridged bands, which are like horseshoes
only in that they curve forward underneath toward the point where
the frenulum attaches, can be found in several pictures in John's
paper. There are some 20 concentric ridged bands, which rub over
the corona. Each ridge has Meissner's corpuscles, which respond
to pressure, and they produce the sexual pleasure that no individual
has a right to take away from another individual.
We believe that stimulation of
the glans is most significant in the later stages of
sexual intercourse, when penetration is deepest and emotions are
running at there highest. Sensations from the glans contribute
to the quality of the sensual experience. They are also apparently
capable of triggering orgasm on their own, as would be the case
in a circumcised man.
Following circumcision,
the foreskin of the penis has been cut away. The surface of the
glans has developed a thick, dry layer of keratin (toughened skin),
which makes it less sensitive to unwanted stimulation, but also
less sensitive to the more subtle qualities of lovemaking.
All circumcised men have an annular
scar on the shaft of the penis. The location of the scar varies,
from near the head to far down the shaft. For some men, so much
skin has been removed that erection becomes difficult and even painful.
This was one of the most common complaints reported by circumcised
men in a recent poll.
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