Glans penis

In male human anatomy, the glans penis (or simply glans, /ɡlænz/)[1] is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the human female. Typically, the glans is completely or partially covered by the foreskin, except in men who have been circumcised, though the foreskin can generally be retracted over and past the glans.

Human penis with its foreskin retracted to expose the glans.

The glans penis, or simply the glans, refers to the head of the penis. The glans is usually covered by a hood of folded skin called the foreskin. The foreskin moisturizes the glans penis by transudation. The surface of the glans is mucosal tissue that, under normal conditions, is moist and supple. If left uncovered for long periods of time, the surface of the glans begins to dry out. In the circumcised penis, the glans is permanently exposed; the surface of the glans dries out and develops layers of keratin and loses sensation.

The glans penis receives much of its blood supply through the frenular artery.

First retraction of the foreskin

Functions of the foreskin include protecting the glans penis from abrasion and moistening it with body oils and moisture to keep it moist and sensitive.

It is normal for the glans penis (head of the penis) to be very sensitive to touch when the foreskin is retracted for the first time since birth.

There is no particular reason to touch the head so, if it is sensitive to touch, then one may simply avoid touching it. Keeping the foreskin forward in its protective position over the glans penis also prevents pain.

Sensitivity and innervation of the glans penis

The human glans penis has virtually no fine touch sensation and can only sense deep pressure and pain at a high threshold. This was first reported by the inventor of the aesthesiometer, and led Sir Henry Head to make his famous comparison with the back of the heel.

The dartos muscle sheet in the foreskin produces contractions that are slow, sustained, and may produce great force, such as in cold temperatures.

The innervation of the glans responds to pressure hence the glans are meant to be stimulated with the foreskin as its medium.

While the human glans penis is protopathic, the prepuce contains a high concentration of touch receptors in the ridged band.

In the human penis, the prepuce is known to have ten times more corpuscular sensory receptors than the glans penis.

Most people are surprised to learn that the glans penis is one of the least sensitive parts of the entire body. The glans is insensitive to light touch, heat, cold, and even pinpricks, as researches at the Department of Pathology in the Health Science Centre at the University of Manitoba discovered The corona of the glans contains scattered free nerve endings, genital end bulbs, and pacinian corpuscles, which transmit sensations of pain and deep pressure. The glans is nearly incapable of detecting light touch.

The results of a fascinating study conducted by Dr. Christopher J. Cold and Dr. Kenneth A. McGrath demonstrate that the human foreskin is an evolutionary advancement over the foreskins of other primates. The human foreskin is far more sophisticated and responsive, as their comparative anatomy studies prove. This is seen most clearly in the evolutionary increase in corpuscular innervation and simultaneous decrease in corpuscular receptors in the human glans relative to the innervation of the foreskin and glans of lower primates.

In other words, in monkeys and apes, the glans is more sensitive then the foreskin. In humans, this is reversed, so that the foreskin is more sensitive then the glans.

An impressive study performed by objective Chinese researchers conclusively demonstrated that circumcision reduces the glans sensitivity to vibration.

"The test group were 1.97 +/- 0.71, 2.64 +/- 1.38, 3.09 +/-1.46 and 2.97 +/- 1.20 respectively before and 1, 2 and 3 months after circumcision, with significant difference between pre- and post-operation (P < 0.05)."(1)