Changes

The glans penis, or simply the glans, refers to the ''head of the penis''. Nature treated the glans penis as an internal organ, so the epithelium is mucosa and provided the foreskin for protection against [[infection]] and [[trauma]]. The glans is normally covered by a hood of folded [[skin]] called the [[foreskin]]. The foreskin moisturizes the glans penis by [[transudation]]. The surface of the glans is mucosal tissue that, under normal conditions in the [[preputial sac]], is moist and supple. If left uncovered for long periods of time, the surface of the glans becomes desiccated. In the [[circumcised]] penis, the glans is permanently exposed; the surface of the glans dries out and develops layers of [[keratinization|keratin]] and loses sensation.

Functions of the [[foreskin]] include protecting the glans penis from abrasion, [[keratinization]] and moistening it by with body oils and moisture to keep it moist, smooth, and glossy with full sensation.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref> The glans of the [[foreskinned]] [[penis]] under the foreskin normally is kept moist to wet with a mixture of moisture and skin oil by transudation. The foreskin will also collect [[pre-ejaculate ]] when it is presentsecreted. There may be a substantial accumulation of beneficial [[smegma]] that has been collecting there harmlessly since birth.

It is normal for the glans penis (head of the penis) to be very sensitive to touch when the [[foreskin ]] is retracted for the first time since birth.