STRUCTURE and PARTS of the PENIS

The male reproductive system It is made up of two well differentiated parts: internal part and external part. The external part of the male reproductive system is made up of: penis and scrotum. Traditionally, the penis has been considered as the key part of the male reproductive system, although scrotum, testicles, epididymis, urethra, etc. are just as important as this one.

In this lesson from a TEACHER we will study the structure and parts of the penis. If you want to know more about the five main parts that make up the penis, we invite you to continue reading!

Index

1. The glans or head of the penis
2. The shaft of the penis
3. The foreskin
4. The frenulum
5. The crown
6. What are the internal parts of the penis?

The penis is part of the male reproductive system and its parts are varied. The upper end of the penis, farthest from the end of the body, is called glans or head.

The glans is Conical shape and in the center of it we can see the opening outlet of the urethra. The

The glans is believed to be the most sensitive part of the penis, although this depends on the male.

The body is another part of the penis and is following the glans downward. The cylindrical body, and it is the longest part of the penis. The shaft of the penis extends from the tip of the penis or glans to where it meets the abdomen.

The urethra, the channel that carries urine and semen, is found inside the body and goes out through a hole called the urinary meatus. It is noteworthy that, in the human body, the final part of the reproductive system and the final part of the urinary tract are connected, so this same hole can remove semen or precum or urine.

To allow the seminal fluid to escape, during intercourse, the ducts that remove urine close and those that carry the precum and seminal fluid open. When it is finished, these close and it is the urinary ducts that open. This process, normally, can be somewhat annoying and slightly painful.

The foreskin is a fur layer that covers and protects the head of the penis or glans. When the penis becomes erect, the foreskin is pulled back (retracts) and leaves the tip of the penis exposed.

On some occasions, due to religious or medical practices (the most common being the appearance of phimosis or paraphimosis), this part of the penis is removed. This is done through a simple but delicate procedure or operation. To do this, the doctor performs a circumcision, shortly after birth or when the male is still young. The absence of a foreskin does not cause any harm to the male, although some of them describe having less sensitivity in the glans.

Therefore, it must be taken into account that there are penises that lack foreskin.

Image: Braulio Manzo

The frenulum is the part of the penis where it is located the foreskin with the reverse of the glans. It is just below the head of the penis and has a somewhat flattened "V" shape.

In general, after circumcision a part of the frenulum remains. Like the glans, for many men it can be very sensitive.

The base of the glans It is called a crown, since it appears as a ring or crown that surrounds it.

In uncircumcised men, the foreskin starts from the crown and completely covers the glans while it is not erect.

Once the external anatomy of the penis has been reviewed, you may be wondering how is the penis inside. The penis is made up of three ducts or bodies: two corpora cavernosa and a corpus spongiosum.

Spongy body of the penis

Within the internal parts of the penis is the spongy body, in the lower or ventral part of the penis. Inside the corpus spongiosum is the urethra (which carries urine, pre-seminal fluid and semen). The farthest or distal end of the corpus spongiosum is enlarged to form the glans, an erectile-capable enlargement that envelops the distal ends of the corpora cavernosa. One of the functions of the corpus spongiosum is to avoid compression of the urethra during erection, since it cushions the dilation of these.

Corpora cavernosa of the penis

The two corpora cavernosa they make up most of the penis and contain erectile tissue, which is dilated by the massive influx of blood during erection. Both bodies act as a unit, as they are united through an incomplete septum: the intercavernous septum. Therefore, the blood that reaches the corpora cavernosa during erection passes from one body to another through these communications.

The erectile tissue of the corpora cavernosa not only contains arteries, but also carries nerves, muscle fibers, and venous sinuses. Seen under the microscope, the corpora cavernosa look like small sponges, the holes in which are filled by blood vessels.

Also, the corpora cavernosa have a muscular structure that allows the passage of blood or prevent it depending on whether the penis is flaccid or erect. When blood passes into the blood vessels, which join with each other, small lakes form, causing the corpora cavernosa and spongyus to swell and harden.

Normally, the role of the spongy body during erection is in the background, since it only absorbs 10% of the blood used in that event, but this is not negligible. Failures in the tissue that forms the corpus spongiosum can produce pathologies that prevent erection and even hinder fertility.

Image: Slideplayer

If you want to read more articles similar to Parts of the penis, we recommend that you enter our category of biology.

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• Hirsch, I.H (July 2019) Structure of the male reproductive system. Recovered from: https://www.msdmanuals.com/es-es/hogar/salud-masculina/biolog%C3%ADa-del-aparato-reproductor-masculino/estructura-del-aparato-reproductor-masculino
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