Retractable fold of skin which covers and protects the glans of the penis
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
Precursor
Genital tubercle, urogenital folds
System
Male reproductive system
Artery
Dorsal artery of the penis
Vein
Dorsal veins of the penis
Nerve
Dorsal nerve of the penis
Identifiers
Latin
praeputium, preputium penis[1]
MeSH
D052816
TA98
A09.4.01.011
TA2
3675
FMA
19639
Anatomical terminology
[edit on Wikidata]
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]
^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.
^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.
^Male circumcision : global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety, and acceptability. Helen Weiss, World Health Organization, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2008. ISBN 978-92-4-159616-9. OCLC 425961131. The foreskin is attached to the glans by the frenulum{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^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
^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
^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
^Cite error: The named reference pmid9734426 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^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
^ abcPotts, 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.
^Crooks, Robert L.; Baur, Karla (2010-01-01). Our Sexuality. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-81294-4.
^Sloane, Ethel (2002). Biology of Women. Delmar Thomson Learning. ISBN 978-0-7668-1142-3.
^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.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
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...
in which the foreskin of the penis cannot stretch to allow it to be pulled back past the glans. A balloon-like swelling under the foreskin may occur with...
Foreskin restoration is the process of expanding the skin on the penis to reconstruct an organ similar to the foreskin, which has been removed by circumcision...
Prepuce, or Holy Foreskin (Latin præputium or prepucium), is one of several relics attributed to Jesus, consisting of the foreskin removed during the...
Foreskin piercing is a piercing that passes through the foreskin of the penis. It is the male equivalent of a clitoral hood piercing in females. It is...
completely or partially covered by a fold of skin called the foreskin. In adults, the foreskin can generally be retracted over and past the glans manually...
is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a...
Posthitis is the inflammation of the foreskin (prepuce) of the penis. It is characterised by swelling and redness on the skin and it may be accompanied...
device used for applying tension to skin during the process of non-surgical foreskin restoration. Those who use such a device employ the use of tissue expansion...
connects the foreskin to the glans and the ventral mucosa. In adults, the frenulum is typically supple enough to allow manual movement of the foreskin over the...
tightly around the akroposthion, the most distal, tubular portion of the foreskin that extends beyond the glans. As depicted in Ancient Greek art the kynodesme...
Paraphimosis is an uncommon medical condition in which the foreskin of a penis becomes trapped behind the glans penis, and cannot be reduced (pulled back...
root, body, the epithelium of the penis including the shaft skin, and the foreskin covering the glans. The body of the penis is made up of three columns of...
hood (also called preputium clitoridis, clitoral prepuce, and clitoral foreskin) is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the glans of the clitoris;...
superincision or supercision) is a single incision along the upper length of the foreskin from the tip to the corona, exposing the glans without removing any tissue...
shall be circumcised. And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt Me and you. And he that...
that connects to the foreskin and helps contract it over the glans, is too short and thus restricts the movement of the foreskin. The frenulum should...
Foreskin Man is a comic book created by Matthew Hess to protest against circumcision. The comic centers on Foreskin Man, a superhero who saves babies...
Balanitis is inflammation of the glans penis. When the foreskin is also affected, the proper term is balanoposthitis. Balanitis on boys still in diapers...
plastic surgical operation on the prepuce or foreskin of the penis, to widen a narrow non-retractile foreskin which cannot comfortably be drawn back off...
the glans; this tissue is called the urethral plate. In most cases, the foreskin is less developed and does not wrap completely around the penis, leaving...
piercing can be performed in several ways. Through infibulation (piercing the foreskin closed), a Prince Albert or frenulum piercing using a smaller gauge locking...
mucosa of the penis is the epithelium of the inside of the prepuce, or foreskin. To differentiate it from the cutaneous skin of the outside of the prepuce...
the United States, the foreskin is completely removed. However, in ancient Egypt and elsewhere in Africa, only part of the foreskin was removed. In the Pacific...
sought to kill him. 25. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, "Surely a bloody husband...
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