Changes

({{GraphicWarning}}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 following text glans is quoted from anatomically homologous to the English [http://en[clitoral glans]] of the human female.wikipediaTypically, 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.org/wiki/Glans_penis Wikipedia]:'')

<blockquote>In male human anatomy, the '''glans penis''' (or simply glans, /ɡlænz/)[1] is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the [[Image:Glans side.jpg|right|thumb|Human penis]]. The glans is anatomically homologous with its foreskin retracted to expose 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.</blockquote>

{{FromIntactWiki|URL=http://intactwikiFunctions of the [[foreskin]] include protecting the glans penis from abrasion, [[keratinization]] and moistening it by with body oils and moisture to keep it moist, smooth, and glossy with full sensation.org/wiki/Glans_Penis|Title<ref name=Glans Penis}}"fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{Construction SiteFleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref> The glans of the [[foreskinned]] [[penis]] under the foreskin normally is kept moist to wet with a mixture of moisture and skin oil by transudation. The foreskin will also collect [[pre-ejaculate]] when it is secreted. There may be a substantial accumulation of beneficial [[smegma]] that has been collecting there harmlessly since birth.

It is normal for the glans penis (head of the penis) to be very sensitive to touch when the [[Image:Glans side.jpg|right|thumb|Human penis with its foreskin ]] is retracted to expose for the glansfirst time since birth.]]

The glans penis, or simply the glans, refers There is no particular reason to touch the head of the penis. The glans so, if it is usually covered by a hood of folded skin called the [[foreskin]]. The surface of the glans is mucosal tissue thatpainful to touch, under normal conditions, is moist and supplethen one may simply avoid touching it. If left uncovered for long periods of time, Keeping the surface of foreskin forward in its protective position over the glans begins to dry out. In the [[circumcision|circumcised]] penis, the glans is permanently exposed; the surface of the glans dries out and develops layers of [[keratinization|keratin]] and loses sensationalso prevents pain.

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,<!-- <ref>{{Von (1894)}} | [[Template:Von (1894)|see more]]</p></ref> --> and led Sir Henry Head to make his famous comparison with the back of the heel.<!-- <ref>{{Head (1920)}} | [[Template:Head (1920)|see more]]</p></ref> -->

The [[dartos|dartos muscle sheet ]] in the [[foreskin ]] produces contractions that are slow, sustained, and may produce great force, such as in cold temperatures.<refname="jefferson1916">Jefferson G. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/jefferson/| The peripenic muscle; some observations on the anatomy of phimosis]. ''Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics'' 1916 Aug;23(2):177-81.</ref>

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

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.<refname="halata1985">Halata Z, Munger BL. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/halata/ The [Neuroanatomical basis for the protopathic sensibility of the human glans penis]. ''Brain Res'' 1986 Apr 23;371(2):205-30.</ref>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 {{UNI|University of Manitoba |UManitoba}} discovered.<refname="taylor1996">Taylor JR, Lockwood AP, Taylor AJ. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor/The prepuce: specialized musocsa of the penis and its loss to circumcision]. ''Br J Urol'' {{TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996 Feb;77(2): 291-5}}</ref>

An impressive study performed by objective Chinese researchers conclusively demonstrated that [[adult circumcision| 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).<ref name="young2008">{{REFjournal |last=Yang |first= |init=D |author-link= |last2=Lin |first2= |init2=H |author2-link= |last3=Zhang |first3= |init3=B |author3-link= |last4=Guo |first4= |init4=W |author4-link= |etal=no |title=[Circumcision affects glans penis vibration perception threshold] |trans-title= |language=Chinese |journal=Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue |date=2008-04 |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=328-30 |quote=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18481425?dopt=Abstract |pubmedID=18481425 |pubmedCID= |DOI= |doi= |accessdate=2024-03-14}}</ref>==Comparison with other primates==The results of a fascinating study conducted by Dr. [[Christopher J. Cold ]] and Dr. [[Ken McGrath|Kenneth A. McGrath ]] demonstrate that the human [[foreskin in ]] 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.<ref>Cold CJ, [[Ken McGrath|McGrath KA]]. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/cold-mcgrathmcgrat/Anatomy and histology of the penile and clitoral prepuce in primates: an evolutionary perspective of the specializes sensory tissue of the external genitalia]. In: Denniston GC, Hodges MF, Milos FM (eds). ''Male and female circumcision: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Practice''. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 1999. pp. 19-29</ref> 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)<ref>Yang, D.-M., Lin, H., Zhang, B., & Guo, W. (2008). [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=18481425&dopt=abstractplus| Circumcision affects glans penis vibration perception threshold]. Zhonghua nan ke xue National Journal of Andrology, 14(4), 328-330. Retrieved May 17 2011 </ref>