Changes

In male human anatomy, the '''glans penis''' (or simply glans, /ɡlænz/)[1] is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the [[penis]]. <ref>{{REFweb |url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/glans+penis |title=glans penis |last= |first= |init= |author-link= |publisher=The Free Dictionary by Farlex |date= |accessdate=2025-01-25}}</ref> The glans is anatomically homologous to the [[clitoral glans]] of the human female. Typically, the glans of the normal [[penis]] is completely or partially covered by the [[foreskin]], except in men who have been [[circumcised]], though the [[foreskin]] can generally be retracted over and past the glans.

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 conditionsin the [[preputial sac]], is moist and supple. If left uncovered for long periods  The glans penis receives much of time, the surface of the glans becomes desiccated. In its blood supply through the [[circumcisedfrenular artery]] penis, . If the glans frenular artery is permanently exposed; the surface of damaged by circumcision, the glans dries out and develops layers penis of some men may not get full [[keratinization|keratinerection]] and loses sensation.

The Nature has designed the glans penis receives much of its blood supply through to be an internal organ, therefore the [[frenular arteryforeskin]]should be kept in position to cover the glans except for sexual activity and occasional washing.

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 sensitiveglossy 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 secreted. When the foreskin is first retracted, 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.

There is no particular reason to touch the head glans so, if it is sensitive painful to touch, then one may simply avoid touching it. Nature provides the [[foreskin]] with its well known [[Immunological and protective function of the foreskin| protective functions]]. Keeping Simply keeping the foreskin forward in its protective position over the glans penis also prevents will prevent pain.

[[Alfonso Cepeda-Emiliani |Cepeda-Emiliani]] et al. (2023) reported the glans penis has dual innervation from both the dorsal and perineal nerves.<ref name="cepeda2023">{{REFjournal |last=Cepe daCepeda-Emiliani

}}</ref>  [[Alfonso Cepeda-Emiliani|Cepeda-Emiliani]] et al. (2025) reported on the sensory corpuscles found in the glans and frenular region:<blockquote>A wide variety of sensory corpuscles in the glans and frenular regionwere spatially segregated in a highly organized manner (Figures 8–10and Figure S4). These included genital, Krause, Pacinian, Paciniform,Golgi-Mazzoni, Ruffini-like, Meissner, and numerous other corpuscles that were difficult to classify.<ref>{{REFjournal |last=Cepeda-Emiliani |first= |init=A |author-link=Alfonso Cepeda-Emiliani |last2=Otero-Alén |first2= |init2=M |author2-link= |last3=Suárez-Quintanilla |first3= |init3=J |author3-link= |last4=Gándara-Cortés |first4= |init4=M |author4-link= |last5=García-Caballero |first5= |init5=T |author5-link= |last6=García-Caballero |first6= |init6=R |author6-link= |last7=García-Caballero |first7= |init7=L |author7-link= |etal=no |title=The sensory penis: A comprehensive immunohistological and ontogenetic exploration of human penile innervation |trans-title= |journal=Andrology |date=2025-09-19 |volume= |issue= |article= |pages=1-41 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/andr.70118 |archived= |quote= |pubmedID=40970806 |pubmedCID= |DOI=10.1111/andr.70118 |accessdate=2025-10-01}}</ref> </blockquote>

When the glans penis loses the protection of the [[foreskin]] it collects a layer of [[keratin]] and loses its glossy appearance. The thick layer of keratin drastically reduces sensitivity.<!--The human glans penis has virtually no fine touch sensation and can only sense deep pressure and pain at a high threshold. This was first reported by the inventor of the aesthesiometer,<!-- <ref>{{Von (1894)}} | [[Template:Von (1894)|see more]]</p></ref> --> and led Sir Henry Head to make his famous comparison with the back of the heel.<!-- <ref>{{Head (1920)}} | [[Template:Head (1920)|see more]]</p></ref> -->

The innervation of the glans responds to pressure hence , so the glans are is meant to be stimulated with the [[foreskin]] as its medium.

<!--Most people are surprised to learn that the glans penis is one of the least sensitive parts of the entire body.<ref name="halata1985">Halata Z, Munger BL. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/halata/ The Neuroanatomical basis for the protopathic sensibility of the human glans penis]. ''Brain Res'' 1986 Apr 23;371(2):205-30.</ref>-->The glans is insensitive to light touch, heat, cold, and even pinpricks, as researches at the Department of Pathology in the [https://hsc.mb.ca/ Health Science Centre ] at the {{UNI|University of Manitoba|UManitoba}} discovered.<ref name="taylor1996">{{TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996}}</ref>The corona of the glans contains scattered free nerve endings, genital end bulbs, and pacinian corpuscles, which transmit sensations of pain and deep pressure. The glans is nearly incapable of detecting light touch.

The results of a fascinating study conducted by Dr. [[Christopher J. Cold]] and Dr. [[Ken McGrath|Kenneth A. McGrath]] demonstrate that the human [[foreskin]] is an evolutionary advancement over the foreskins of other primates. The human [[foreskin]] is far more sophisticated and responsive, as their comparative anatomy studies prove. This is seen most clearly in the evolutionary increase in corpuscular innervation and simultaneous decrease in corpuscular receptors in the human glans relative to the innervation of the foreskin and glans of lower primates.<ref>Cold CJ, [[Ken McGrath|McGrath KA]]. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/cold-mcgrat/ Anatomy and histology of the penile and clitoral prepuce in primates: an evolutionary perspective of the specializes sensory tissue of the external genitalia]. In: Denniston GC, Hodges MF, Milos FM (eds). ''Male and female circumcision: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Practice''. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 1999. pp. 19-29</ref> In other words, in monkeys and apes, the [[glans]] is more sensitive then the foreskin. In humans, this is reversed, so that the foreskin is more sensitive then the glans.  An impressive study performed by objective Chinese researchers conclusively demonstrated that [[adult circumcision| circumcision]] reduces the [[glans]] sensitivity to vibration. "The test group were 1.97 +/- 0.71, 2.64 +/- 1.38, 3.09 +/-1.46 and 2.97 +/- 1.20 respectively before and 1, 2 and 3 months after circumcision, with significant difference between pre- and post-operation (P < 0.05).<ref name="young2008">{{REFjournal

|quote=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18481425?dopt=Abstract