Immunological and protective function of the foreskin

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Although it was once claimed that the human foreskin was filthy and harbored disease and infection, in reality the opposite is true. The foreskin is designed by nature to be self cleaning and to provide significant natural immunological protection against all types of infection.

The protective and hygienic function of the foreskin

The foreskin, like the eyelid, also serves an important protective and hygienic function. The foreskin protects the delicate glans of the penis and puts the urethra at a distance form its environment, protecting it from foreign contaminants of all kinds while simultaneously shielding the penis from injury. It is a double fold of skin which offers two layers of protection.

Natural secretions of oil are achieved by sebaceous glands which are abound in the foreskin's inner lining, these are not present in the glans penis.[1] They are also present in the eye lid and perform the same function in both places. They secrete the oils necessary to keep the glans surface soft, moist, smooth, warm, sensitive, and with a healthy glistening red or purple color. This moisturizer also maintains PH balance, and optimal cleanliness. This is required to keep the surface of the glans healthy and clean via the cleaning effects of mucous secretions. Again, this function is analogous to the eye lid. The glans penis is meant to be an internal organ covered and protected from the outside world.

In the genitally intact penis the urine stream flushes out the urethra and foreskin of foreign microbes. In healthy individuals, urine is sterile and has a disinfectant quality. Researchers have demonstrated that the swirling action of urine as it rushes through the foreskin flushes it out effortlessly and naturally.[2]

Though urine passes through the foreskin every day, the inner foreskin is remarkably free of urea — a by-product of liver metabolism that is secreted in urine. Studies demonstrate that washings from the foreskin are rich in fructose, acid phosphatase, and mucin, but never urea. It appears that the secretions of seminal vesicles, prostate, and urethral mucous glands, collectively or individually, keep the foreskin clear and clean as well.[3] At birth, the foreskin is usually attached to the glans(head) of the penis, akin to how a fingernail is attached to a finger.[4]

In infancy the foreskin's tubular neck (prepucial orifice) is often long and narrow while the sphincter muscle in the tip of the foreskin keeps its opening closed. This acts as an extension of the urethra.[5] [6] Together, these properties prevent the entry of contaminants.

The idea that the foreskin is "dirty" or "unclean" is a scientifically unfounded superstition. The intact penis is naturally clean and maintains a level of hygiene that is optimal when compared to a penis that has been altered by circumcision.

In comparison, due to the open wounds and raw bleeding flesh, the circumcised penis needs much more care after circumcision. The surgically externalized glans is dirty rather then clean because of constant exposure to dirt, abrasion and contaminants.[7] Circumcised boys are also found to be more likely to develop balanitis, meatitis, coronal adhesions and meatal stenosis.[7]

The immunological function of the foreskin

The foreskin's inner fold and the glans of the penis are comprised of mucous membrane tissue. These are also present in your eyes, mouth, and all other bodily orifices including the female genitals. These are the first line of immunological defensive for the body's orifices. These mucous membranes perform many immunological and hygienic functions. Certain components such as Langerhans cells,[8] plasma cells,[9] apocrine glands,[10] and sebaceous glands,[11] [12] [13] [14], collectively secrete emollient lubricants.[2] Apocrine glands perform a crucial function by secreting enzymes such as lysosomal enzymes, cathepsin B, chymotrypsin, and neutrophil elastase.[15]

There is also some research to suggest that lysozyme may protect against HIV infection.[16]

Apocrine glands also produce cytokine,[17] which is a very important non-antibody protein that generates immune response when in contact with specific agents. Plasma cells which increase in number in response to pathogens levels, secrete immunoglobulin.[9] It is also very important to note that Langerhans cells that are present in the foreskin produce Langerin, a substance that has been proven to kill human immunodefiency viris (HIV) on contact.[18]

All of these function to sequester and “digest” foreign pathogens. All these substances play an important role in protecting the penis from viral and bacterial pathogens. The immunological functions of the human prepuce have been extensively documented by respected researchers for quite some time.[19]


References

  1. ↑ Hyman AB, Brownstein MH. Tyson's "glands": ectopic sebaceous glands and papillomatosis penis. Arch Dermatol. 1969 Jan;99(1):31-6.
  2. ↑ a b Parkash S, Jeykumar S, Subramanyan K, Chaudhuri S. Human subpreputial collection: its nature and formation. J Urol. 1973 Aug 110(2):211-2.
  3. ↑ Parkash S. Penis: some facts and fancies. Journal of Physician's Association 0f Madras June 1982: 1-13.
  4. ↑ Diebert GA. The separation of the prepuce in the human penis. Anatomical Record. 1993 Nov;57(4):387-99.
  5. ↑ Hunter RH. Notes on the development of the prepuce. Journal of Anatomy. 1935 Oct;70(1):6875.
  6. ↑ Glenister TW. A consideration of their process involved in the development of the prepuce in man. Br J Urol. 1956 Sep;28(3):243-9.
  7. ↑ a b Van Howe RS. Variability in penile appearance and penile findings: a prospective study. Br J Urol 1997; 80: 776-82.
  8. ↑ Weiss GN, Sanders M, Westbrook KC. The distribution and density of Langerhans cells in the human prepuce: site of diminished immune response? Isr J Med Sci 1993 Jan;29(1);42-3
  9. ↑ a b Flower PJ, Ladds PW, Thomas AD, Watson DL. An immunopathologic study on the bovine prepuce. Vet Pathol 1983 Mar;20(2):189-201.
  10. ↑ Ahmed A, Jones AW. Apocrine Cystadenoma: a report of two cases occurring on the prepuce. Br J Dermatol 1969 Dec; 81(12):899-901.
  11. ↑ Hyman AB, Brownstein MH. Tyson's "glands": ectopic sebaceous glands and papillomatosis penis. Arch Dermatol 1969 Jan;99(1):31-6
  12. ↑ Delbanco E. Über das gehäufte Aufreten von Talgdrusen an der Innerflähe des Präputium. Monatshefte für praktishe Dermatologie 1904; 38:536-8.
  13. ↑ Piccinno R, Carrel C-F, Menni S. et al. sebacous glands mimicking molluscum contagiosum Acta Derm Venerol 1990;70:344-5.
  14. ↑ Krompecher St. Die Histologie der Absonderung fur Smegma Praeputi. Anatomischer Anzeiger 1932; 75:170-76.
  15. ↑ Frohlich E Shamburg-Lever G, Klesses C. Immunelectron microscopic localization of cathepsin B in human apocrine glands. J Cutan Pathol 1993 Feb;20(1):54-60
  16. ↑ George Hill. Summary of evidence that the foreskin and lysozyme may protect against HIV infection. 7 September 2003.
  17. ↑ Ahmed AA, Nordlind K, Schultzberd M, Liden S. Immunohistochemical localization of IL-1 alpha-, IL-1 beta-, IL-6- and TNF-alpha-like immunoreactivities in human apocrine glands. Arch Dermatol Res. 1995;287(8):764-6.
  18. ↑ de Witte L, Nabatov A, Pion M, et al. Langerin is a natural barrier to HIV-1 transmission by Langerhans cells. Nat Med 2007 Mar;13(3):367-71.
  19. ↑ Fleiss PM, Hodges FM, Van Howe RS. Immunological functions of the human prepuce. Sex Trans Infect (London), Volume 74, Number 5, Pages 364-367, October 1998.
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