Physiological phimosis

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Physiological phimosis is a medical term that is used to designate the normal, healthful, developmental condition of the penis during infancy, boyhood, and adolescence.

Physiological is a word that designates a normal, healthful condition. It opposes the word pathological that designates an abnormal, perhaps diseased condition.

Phimosis is the word derived from Greek that denotes the condition of a foreskin that does not retract.

Discussion

The foreskin evolved over many thousands of years in men and animals to provide protective functions that enhance survival. It provides protection to the penis from trauma and infection. Its presence prevents meatal stenosis and keratinization.

Nature provides two means to retraction of the foreskin during the developmental period. 1) The inner surface of the foreskin is fused with the underlying glans penis by a common synechia to prevent retraction. Forcible retraction will tear the synechia so should be avoided. 2) Nature provides a second method is provided to prevent retraction by making the tip of the immature foreskin too narrow to pass over the glans penis. The first person to retract a boy's foreskin should be the boy himself.

See also

• Development of retractable foreskin

External links

• Ward K. The Doctors says my child has phimosis!, Your Whole Baby. Retrieved 22 October 2025.