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===Foreskin in adulthood===
The foreskin (also known as the prepuce) is the double-layered fold of smooth muscle tissue, blood vessels, neurons, [[skin]], and [[Preputial mucosa|mucous membrane]] part of the penis that covers and protects the [[glans penis]] and the urinary meatus.<ref name="cold-taylor1999"/> The adult foreskin measures about 3 inches by 5 inches or [[The Foreskin: 15 Square Inches of Erogenous Tissue| 15 square inches]].<ref name="taylor1996">{{TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996}}</ref> The two foreskin layers provide a [[skin]] reserve. When the penis becomes erect, the foreskin may wholly or partially unfold to provide the necessary [[skin]] to allow for expansion of the penis during [[erection]].
The foreskin is the movable part of the penis. The foreskin is not attached to the underlying structure and is free to glide back and forth.<ref name="lakshmanan-prakash1980">{{REFjournal
The foreskin serves as a pathway for many significant veins. In addition the foreskin is saturated with very many nerve endings and tactile corpuscles, the same receptors that exist in the fingertips. The enormous density of nerves and mechanoreceptors make the foreskin the most sensitive part of the body, approximately 10 times more sensitive than the fingertips. This also distinguishes the human penis from those of other mammals, which in contrast have the main concentration of nerves in the glans, and not in the foreskin.
The two foreskin layers provide a skin reserve, into which the growing shaft expands during an [[erection]]. Depending to the individual length of a man's foreskin, it thereby retracts more or less far. In some men, the foreskin still fully covers the glans during an [[erection]], in others the glans is partly or completely exposed.
In addition, the foreskin, in combination with the [[shaft skin]], allows a natural gliding action. During intercourse as well as [[masturbation]] the outer skin is in contact with the vagina or the hand respectively. The penile shaft moves mostly within its skin and the skin only moves at the end of its thrust. Due to this, the friction with the vagina or hand is reduced. The sexual stimulation mostly occurs through the stretching and movement of the foreskin, when it is pulled over the glans and back, as well as the direct stimulation of the inner foreskin when it is exposed and comes into direct contact with the vagina or the hand. The [[frenulum]] may limit retraction.