Glans
The glans is usually slightly thicker than the body of the penis, and its shape has been compared to that of an acorn (glans is Latin for acorn.) Actually it is the extension of the corpus spongiosum, and it contains the external opening of the urethra. Since its smooth surface is studded with innumerable nerve endings, the glans is extremely sensitive to the touch, particularly around its rim. By the same token, it is also an important source of sexual pleasure for the male. The underside of the glans is attached to the foreskin by a thin tissue called frenum. Behind the rim of the glans and under the foreskin there are glands that secrete a cheeselike substance known as smegma. If the foreskin is tight this smegma may accumulate and cause irritation. In any case, good personal hygiene demands daily washing of the glans and removal of the smegma. For this the foreskin has to be pulled back. In some cultures, this problem does not arise because the foreskin is removed in a simple operation called circumcision. |
