Frenulum of the foreskin: Difference between revisions

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The '''frenulum of the foreskin''', often known simply as the '''frenulum''', is an elastic band of tissue under the [[glans penis]] that connects the [[foreskin]] (prepuce) to the vernal mucosa, and helps contract the foreskin over the glans.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jensen|first=Christian|title=Can I Just Ask?|year=2011|publisher=Hay House|isbn=9781848502468|page=58}}</ref> The frenular artery passes through the frenulum.

The frenulum and the associated tissue delta on the underside of the [[penis]] below the corona has been described in sexuality textbooks as "very reactive" and "particularly responsive to touch that is light and soft".  The "underside of the shaft of the penis, meaning the part below the corona" is a "source of distinct pleasure".<ref name="hass1993">{{cite book |last1=Hass |first1=K. |last2=Hass |first2=A. |title=Understanding Sexuality |location=St Louis |publisher=Mosby |year=1993 |pages=99–100|isbn=0801667488|url=https://books.google.com/?id=snhqAAAAMAAJ&dq=Understanding+Sexuality.&q=frenulum#search_anchor}}</ref> Crooks and Baur observe that two extremely sensitive specific locations that many men find particularly responsive to stimulation are the corona, and the frenulum.<ref name="crooks1993">{{cite book |last1=Crooks |first1=R. |last2=Baur |first2=K. |title=Our Sexuality |edition=5th |location=Redwood City |publisher=Benjamin/Cummings |year=1993 |page=129 |isbn=0-534-59567-7}}</ref> Repeated stimulation of this structure will cause orgasm and ejaculation in some men.

In men with spinal cord injury preventing sensations from reaching the brain, the frenulum just below the glans can be stimulated to produce orgasm and peri-ejaculatory response.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Rehabilitation of Persons With Spinal Cord Injuries |first=Michael F. |last=Saulino |publisher=WebMD |year=2006 |url=http://www.emedicine.com/orthoped/topic425.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=7811177 |doi=10.1016/S0003-9993(95)80044-1 |year=1995 |last1=Pryor |first1=JL |last2=Leroy |last3=Nagel |last4=Hensleigh |title=Vibratory stimulation for treatment of anejaculation in quadriplegic men |volume=76 |issue=1 |pages=59–64 |journal=Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |first2=Suzanne C. |first3=Theodore C. |first4=Hugh C. }}</ref>

[[Frenulum breve]] is a condition in which the frenulum is short and restricts the movement of the foreskin, which may or may not interfere with normal sexual activity. The condition can be treated by frenuloplasty, frenectomy, or [[circumcision]]. Frenulum breve may contribute to frenular chordee, where the glans is pulled toward the vernal body of the penis. Frenulum breve may also be treated by manually expanding the shaft skin by stretching.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}

The frenulum may be entirely missing in cases of first degree [[hypospadias]].

It is possible for the frenulum to tear during sexual activities. The frenular artery, a branch of the dorsal artery, may be severed, causing significant bleeding.

In the event of [[frenulum breve]] or frenular chordee, or to ensure that the glans can be freely and completely exposed, the frenulum may be partially or totally removed. It is also often removed in a [[circumcision]].<ref>{{REFjournal |pmid=2305537 |year=1990 |last1=Griffin |first1=AS |last2=Kroovand |title=Frenular chordee: implications and treatment |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=133–4 |journal=Urology |doi=10.1016/0090-4295(90)80060-Z |first2=R. }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=10733391 |doi=10.1542/peds.105.3.681 |year=2000 |last1=Preiser |first1=G |title=Circumcision--the debates goes on |volume=105 |issue=3 Pt 1 |pages=681–684 |journal=Pediatrics |first2=M. |first3=T. |first4=C. |first5=S. A. |first6=R. J. |first7=B. |first8=S. A. |first9=F. M. |last2=Herschel; |last3=Bartman; |last4=Andersson; |last5=Bailis; |last6=Shechet |last7=Tanenbaum; |last8=Kunin; |last9=Hodges |last10=Fleiss; |first10=P. M. |last11=Antonopoulos; |first11=J. |last12=Rockney |first12=R. |last13=Taylor; |first13=A. |last14=Stang |first14=H. |last15=Snellman |first15=L. |last16=Fontaine |first16=P. |last17=Condon; |first17=L. M. |last18=Lannon |first18=C. M.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Neonatal Circumcision: An Audiovisual Primer |publisher=Stanford School of Medicine |url=http://newborns.stanford.edu/Circumcision.html}}</ref>

A frenectomy can be performed to remove the frenulum from the penis, which is a treatment for [[frenulum breve]] or frenular chordee.<ref name="pmid2305537"/> This is a form of [[Genital frenectomy (disambiguation)|genital frenectomy]]. The frenulum may be cut when a male is circumcised. This may also reduce the size of the [[frenular delta]]. The frenulum was reported to be cut in 26.7%, 20%, and 33.33% of circumcised patients in various surveys.<ref name="pmid2305537">{{cite journal |vauthors=Griffin AS, Kroovand RL |title=Frenular chordee: implications and treatment |journal=Urology |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=133–4 |year=1990 |pmid=2305537 |doi=10.1016/0090-4295(90)80060-Z}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/105/3/681.pdf#search=%22%20Frenular%20chordee%22|title=Circumcision—The Debates Goes On|journal=Pediatrics|volume=105|issue=3|pages=681–684|doi=10.1542/peds.105.3.681|year=2000|last1=Preiser|first1=Gary}}</ref>

{{Commons category}}

*{{cite book |first=Ken |last=McGrath |chapter=The Frenular Delta |year=2001 |editor=Denniston GC |editor2=Hodges FM |editor3=Milos MF |title=Understanding Circumcision: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to a Multi-Dimensional Problem |location=New York |isbn=978-0306467011|publisher=Kluwer}}