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They are a type of nerve ending in the [[skin]] that is responsible for sensitivity to light touch. In particular, they have their highest sensitivity (lowest threshold) when sensing vibrations between 10 and 50 hertz. They are rapidly adaptive receptors. They are most concentrated in thick hairless [[skin]], especially at the finger pads.Meissner's corpuscles are the predominant sensory corpsucle in the [[foreskin]].<ref>{{REFjournal |last=García-Mesa |first= |init=Y |author-link= |last2=García-Piqueras |first2= |init2=J |author2-link= |last3=Cobo |first3= |init3=R |author3-link= |last4= |first4= |init4= |author4-link= |last5= |first5= |init5= |author5-link= |last6= |first6= |init6= |author6-link= |last7= |first7= |init7= |author7-link= |last8= |first8= |init8= |author8-link= |last9= |first9= |init9= |author9-link= |etal=yes |title=Sensory innervation of the human male prepuce: Meissner's corpuscles predominate |trans-title= |journal= J Anat |location= |date=2021-10 |volume=239 |issue=4 |article= |page= |pages=892-902 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joa.13481 |archived= |quote= |pubmedID=34120333 |pubmedCID=8450466 |DOI=10.1111/joa.13481 |accessdate=2025-03-05}}</ref>
==Description==
Meissner's corpuscles are encapsulated, unmyelinated nerve endings, surrounded by Schwann cells. The encapsulation consists of flattened supportive cells arranged as horizontal lamellae surrounded by a connective tissue capsule. They are found in abundance in the human [[foreskin]].<ref name="meissner2011winkleman1956">{{REFweb |url=http://www.anatomybox.com/meissners-corpuscles/ |title=Meissner’s CorpusclesREFjournal |last=Winkelmann
|first=
|init=RK |author-link= |etal=no |title=The cutaneous innervation of human newborn prepuce |trans-title= |language= |journal=J Invest Dermatol |location= |date=20111956-0401 |volume=26 |issue=1 |article= |page= |pages=53-67 |url=https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-04202X(15)48804-9/pdf |archived= |quote= |pubmedID=13295637 |pubmedCID= |DOI=10.1038/jid.1956.5 |doi= |format=PDF |accessdate=20202023-1007-2512}}</ref> The encapsulation consists of flattened supportive cells arranged as horizontal lamellae surrounded by a connective tissue capsule. They are found in abundance in the human [[foreskin]].<ref name="garcía-mesa2021">{{REFjournal
|last=García-Mesa
|first=Yolanda
|accessdate=2021-11-15
}}</ref>
Vega et al. (2025) found that the quantity of Meissner's corpuscles in the human foreskin varies by age. They reported:
<blockquote>
Thus, based on our results, it can be stated that the mechanosensory innervation of the human foreskin reaches its maximum value around the age of 20 (i.e., until [[puberty]]), remains stable during adulthood and decreases with maturity. The increase in CEOCs and MEOCs until adolescence might be related to the completion of maturation of the Meissner’s corpuscles or alternatively, it could be related to pubertal changes in the preputial skin. As for the reduction in older subjects, it cannot be certain whether this it is related to the cutaneous-mucosal microenvironment of the foreskin or to hormonal factors, although it is likely that it is both. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that it is a normal aging process of the peripheral somatosensory nervous system.<ref name="vega2025">{{REFjournal
|last=Vega
|first=
|init=JA
|author-link=
|last2=Aiello
|first2=
|init2=V
|author2-link=Vincenzo Aiello
|last3=Martin-Cruces
|first3=
|init3=J
|author3-link=
|last4=Suazo
|first4=
|init4=I
|author4-link=
|last5=Jones
|first5=
|init5=R
|author5-link=
|last6=Musa
|first6=
|init6=W
|author6-link=
|last7=Szebeni-Varga
|first7=
|init7=B
|author7-link=
|last8=Garcia-Suảrez
|first8=
|init8=O
|author8-link=
|last9=Garcỉa-Mesa
|first9=
|init9=Y
|author9-link=
|etal=no
|title=Sexual Mechanosensitivity: Age-Related Changes in the Innervation of the Human Prepuce
|trans-title=
|journal=J Clin Med
|location=
|date=2025-07-04
|volume=14
|issue=13
|page=4730
|url=https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/13/4730
|archived=
|quote=
|pubmedID=40649104
|pubmedCID=12250474
|DOI=10.3390/jcm14134730
|accessdate=2025-07-31
}}</ref>
</blockquote>
==Location==
Winkelmann (1959) identified the [[Foreskin| prepuce]] and the [[glans penis]] (where Meissner's corpuscles are found) as ''specific erogenous zones''.<ref name="winklemann1959">{{WinkelmannRK 1959}}</ref>
Sorrells et al. (2007) used a Semmes-Weinstein monofilament touch-test to map the fine-touch pressure thresholds of the [[penis]]. The areas most sensitive to fine-touch were the tip of the [[foreskin]] the mucocutaneous junction, the [[ridged band]], and the [[frenulum]]. These areas correspond to the location of Meissner's corpuscles. (These areas are not found on the [[circumcised ]] [[penis]].)<ref name="sorrells2007">{{Sorrells etal 2007}}</ref>
Most [[intact]] men note that movement of the [[foreskin]] produces a pleasurable sensation.<ref name="garcía-mesa2021" /><ref name="berkeley1993">{{REFbook
|date=
|accessdate=2020-10-27
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://intactamerica.org/what-do-the-eyelids-lips-fingertips-the-intact-penis-have-in-common/
|title=What Do The Eyelids, Lips, Fingertips & The Intact Penis Have in Common?
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|publisher=Intact America
|date=2024-02-17
|accessdate=2024-02-18
}}
{{REF}}
[[Category:Education]]
[[Category:Penis]]
[[Category:Physiology]]
[[Category:Male sexuality]]
[[de:Meissner-Körperchen]]