Foreskin

This article is about the human foreskin. For the foreskin in other mammals, see Penile sheath. For other uses, see Prepuce.

Foreskin
Human foreskin fully covering the glans penis
Details
PrecursorGenital tubercle, urogenital folds
SystemMale reproductive system
ArteryDorsal artery of the penis
VeinDorsal veins of the penis
NerveDorsal nerve of the penis
Identifiers
Latinpraeputium, preputium penis[1]
MeSHD052816
TA98A09.4.01.011
TA23675
FMA19639
Anatomical terminology

In male human anatomy, the foreskin, also known as the prepuce (/ˈpriːpjuːs/), is the double-layered fold of skin, mucosal and muscular tissue at the distal end of the human penis that covers the glans and the urinary meatus.[2] The foreskin is attached to the glans by an elastic band of tissue, known as the frenulum.[3] The outer skin of the foreskin meets with the inner preputial mucosa at the area of the mucocutaneous junction.[4] The foreskin is mobile, fairly stretchable and sustains the glans in a moist environment.[5] Except for humans, a similar structure known as a penile sheath appears in the male sexual organs of all primates and the vast majority of mammals.[6]

In humans, foreskin length varies widely and coverage of the glans in a flaccid and erect state can also vary.[7] The foreskin is fused to the glans at birth and is generally not retractable in infancy and early childhood.[8] Inability to retract the foreskin in childhood should not be considered a problem unless there are other symptoms.[9] Retraction of the foreskin is not recommended until it loosens from the glans before or during puberty.[9] In adults, it is typically retractable over the glans, given normal development.[9] The male prepuce is anatomically homologous to the clitoral hood in females.[10][11] In some cases, the foreskin may become subject to a pathological condition.[a][12]

  1. ^ Paulsen, Friedrich; Waschke, Jens (2023). Sobotta Atlas of Anatomy, Vol. 2, 17th Ed., English/Latin: Internal Organs. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 2971. ISBN 978-0-70206-770-9. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Kirby R, Carson C, Kirby M (2009). Men's Health (3rd ed.). New York: Informa Healthcare. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-4398-0807-8. OCLC 314774041.
  3. ^ Helen Weiss; World Health Organization; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2008). Male circumcision : global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety, and acceptability. Geneva: World Health Organization. ISBN 978-92-4-159616-9. OCLC 425961131. The foreskin is attached to the glans by the frenulum
  4. ^ Raynor, Stephen C. (2010-01-01), Holcomb, George Whitfield; Murphy, J. Patrick; Ostlie, Daniel J. (eds.), "chapter 61 - CIRCUMCISION", Ashcraft's Pediatric Surgery (Fifth Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 791–795, ISBN 978-1-4160-6127-4, retrieved 2022-10-24, The prepuce is a specialized junctional mucocutaneous tissue that provides adequate skin and mucosa
  5. ^ Collier, Roger (2011-11-22). "Vital or vestigial? The foreskin has its fans and foes". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 183 (17): 1963–1964. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-4014. ISSN 0820-3946. PMC 3225416. PMID 22025652. It is also a warm, moist environment that may allow viral particles to linger longer on the penis
  6. ^ Fahmy, Mohamed A. Baky (2015), Fahmy, Mohamed A. Baky (ed.), "Prepuce", Rare Congenital Genitourinary Anomalies: An Illustrated Reference Guide, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 33–41, doi:10.1007/978-3-662-43680-6_3, ISBN 978-3-662-43680-6, retrieved 2022-12-01
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid9734426 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Dave, Sumit; Afshar, Kourosh; Braga, Luis H.; Anderson, Peter (2018). "CUA guideline on the care of the normal foreskin and neonatal circumcision in Canadian infants". Canadian Urological Association Journal. 12 (2): E76 – E99. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5033. ISSN 1920-1214. PMC 5937400. PMID 29381458. At birth, the inner foreskin is usually fused to the glans penis and should not be forcibly retracted
  9. ^ a b c Potts, Jeannette (2004). "Penis Problems". Essential Urology: A Guide to Clinical Practice. Humana Press. p. 29. ISBN 9781592597376. Virtually all foreskins become retractable in puberty. Thus, phimosis is not a pathological condition in young children unless it is associated with balanitis, or, rarely, urinary retention.
  10. ^ Crooks, Robert L.; Baur, Karla (2010-01-01). Our Sexuality. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-81294-4.
  11. ^ Sloane, Ethel (2002). Biology of Women. Delmar Thomson Learning. ISBN 978-0-7668-1142-3.
  12. ^ Shah M (January 2008). The Male Genitalia: A Clinician's Guide to Skin Problems and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Radcliffe Publishing. pp. 37–. ISBN 978-1-84619-040-7. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2015-10-27.


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