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The '''foreskin''' or '''prepuce''' is the double-layered fold of smooth muscle tissue, blood vessels, neurons, skin, and mucous membrane part of the [[penis ]] that covers and protects the glans penis and the urinary meatus.

Purpura ''et al.'' (2018) describe the foreskin as follows:<br><br><small><bblockquote>Few parts of the human anatomy can compare to the incredibly multifaceted nature of the human foreskin. At times dismissed as “just skin,” the adult foreskin is, in fact, a highly vascularized and densely innervated bilayer tissue, with a surface area of up to 90 cm, and potentially larger. On average, the foreskin accounts for 51% of the total length of the penile shaft skin and serves a multitude of functions. The tissue is highly dynamic and biomechanically functions like a roller bearing; during intercourse, the foreskin “unfolds” and glides as abrasive friction is reduced and lubricating fluids are retained. The sensitive foreskin is considered to be the primary erogenous zone of the male [[penis]] and is divided into four subsections: [[Preputial mucosa| inner mucosa]], [[ridged band]], [[frenulum]], and outer foreskin; each section contributes to a vast spectrum of sensory pleasure through the [[gliding action ]] of the foreskin, which mechanically stretches and stimulates the densely packed corpuscular receptors. Specialized immunological properties should be noted by the presence of Langerhans cells and other lytic materials, which defend against common microbes, and there is robust evidence supporting HIV protection. The [[glans penis| glans]] and inner mucosa are physically protected against external irritation and contaminants while maintaining a healthy, moist surface. The foreskin is also immensely vascularized and acts as a conduit for essential blood vessels within the penis, such as supplying the glans via the frenular artery.</b></small><ref>{{REFjournal

}}</ref> <br/blockquote> 

Baby boys are born with the foreskin fused with the [[glans penis]] by the balanopreputial lamina, a [[synechia| synechial membrane]], which prevents retraction. In addition, the tip of the foreskin ([[acroposthion]]) is usually too narrow to allow [[retraction of the foreskin]]. The preputial cavity is closed by the synechia and cannot be infected.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/>

Forcible attempts to retract the foreskin result in injury to the boy, so should be avoided. The first person to retract the foreskin should be the boy himself.<ref name="Wright1994">{{REFjournal |last=Wright |first=J.E. |title=Further to the "Further Fate of the Foreskin" |journal=Med J Aust |volume=160 |issue= |pages=134-135 |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/wright2/ |quote= |pubmedID=8295581 |pubmedCID= |DOI= |date=1994-02-07 |accessdate=2020-05-16}}</ref>

|url=httphttps://onlinelibrarywww.wileyarclaw.comorg/doiwp-content/10.1046uploads/j.1464Taylor-Prepuce-SpecMucosa-BJU-410X.1996.85023.x/fullpdf

}}</ref>Taylor ''et al''. reported:<blockquote>The layer vascular ridges of the `ridged band' and its [[dartosMeissner's corpuscles]] muscle is contained within firmly separate preputial epithelium from true skin and place preputial mucosa amongst other mucocutaneous mucosae. Winkelmann emphasized the structural and functional importance of junctional regions of the foreskin.<ref name="coldbody and focused on mucocutaneous end-taylor1999 /> The dartos muscle keeps the foreskin snugly against organs, or `genital corpuscles', of the glanspenis and prepuce. Some of these end-organs resemble Krause end-bulbs; others resemble [[Meissner's corpuscles]]. The fibers … [[Meissner's corpuscles]] of the dartos muscle form prepuce may be compared with similar nerve-endings in the finger-tips and lips, which respond in a fraction of a whorl at the tip second to contact with light objects that functions as bring about deformation of their capsules. … The prepuce provides a sphincterlarge and important platform for several nerves and nerve endings. The sphincter opens innervation of the outer skin of the prepuce is impressive; its sensitivity to allow urine light touch and pain are similar to flow out, but closes to protect that of the skin of the penis from foreign matter, contaminants, and pathogensas a whole.<ref name="lakshmanan-prakash1980taylor1996"/><ref>{{REFjournal |last=Jefferson |first= |author-link= |title=The peripenic muscle; some observations on the anatomy of phimosis |journal=Surgery, Gynecology, and Obstetrics (Chicago) |date=1916 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=177-81 |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/jefferson/ |quote= |pubmedID= |pubmedCID= |DOI= |accessdate=2019-10-14}}</refblockquote>

The [[ridged band]] area is found at the mucocutaneous junction. The ridged band area is characterized by rete ridges with Meissner’s [[Meissner's corpuscles ]] in the ridges.<ref name="taylor1996"/>

The foreskin provides physical protection to the [[glans penis ]] and inner mucosa, supplying moisture and natural oils by [[transudation]], protecting the mucosal tissue from pathogens, pollutants, friction, injury, [[keratinization]], and drying out. The foreskin protects the glans penis and meatus of infant boys from abrasion and irritation from ammoniacal diapers.<ref name="gairdner1949">{{REFjournal

|pubmedID=22924249

In the absence of the foreskin about ten to twenty percent of boys suffer urethral stricture ([[meatal stenosis]]) requiring further treatment.<ref name="frisch2016">{{REFjournal

|title=Cultural background, non-therapeutic circumcision and the risk of meatal stenosis and other urethral stricture dis-easedisease: Two nationwide register-based cohort studies in Denmark 1977-2013

Although claims have been made that the presence of the foreskin increases the risk of infection with [[Circumcision and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)HIV| human immune deficiency virus]] (HIV), that is not correct. The claims are based on the reported findings of three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that were carried out more than a decade ago in Africa. Boyle & Hill (2011) have shown these RCTs to be have significant methodological flaws and statistical errors that render their claims invalid.<ref name="boyle-hill2011">{{REFjournal

The foreskin is a sexual organ. It provides both mechanical and erogenous functions in sexual intercourse.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/> Winkelmann (1959) classified the foreskin as specific erogenous tissue.<ref name="winklemann1959" />{When the penis becomes erect, the foreskin unfolds to provide the skin necessary to allow the penis to expand to full size and length.

The [[gliding action]] provides stimulation and facilitates intromission.<ref name="warren-bigelow1994"/><ref name="morgan1965">{{REFjournal

Nature designed the foreskin to be an erogenous sensory organ. The foreskin has a layer of muscle called the [[dartos]] muscle sheath that provides the foreskin with elasticity, flexibility, and stretchiness, which allows full stimulation of the nerves in the [[ridged band]] that sense movement and stretchingto provide [[foreskin sensitivity]]. There is a mucocutaneous region at the tip of the foreskin where outer skin changes to inner mucosa. Winklemann (1959) identified the foreskin as a ''specific erogenous zone'' (meaning an area of acute erogenous sensation). Winklemann reported rete ridges in the foreskin with nerves set close to the surface with closely set networks.<ref name="winklemann1959"/>

The prepuce provides a large and important platform for several nerves and nerve endings. The innervation of the outer skin of the prepuce is impressive; its sensitivity to light touch and pain are similar to that of the skin of the penis as a whole.<ref name="taylor1996" />

Cold & Taylor (1999) commented, "The increased frequency of [[masturbation]], anal intercourse and fellatio reported by circumcised men in the USA may possibly be due to the sensory imbalance caused by circumcision. Clearly, amputation of the prepuce causes changes in sexual behaviour in human males and females."<ref name="cold-taylor1999" />

}}</ref>

|Text=''It is hard for a woman with whom an uncircumcised man has had sexual intercourse to separate from him''.

In a first of its kind, O'Hara & O'Hara (1999) carried out a retrospective surevy survey of 138 women with experience of both intact and circumcised partners. The women overwhelmingly concurred that the mechanics of coitus was different for the two groups of men. Of the women, 73% reported that circumcised men tend to thrust harder and deeper, using elongated strokes, while unaltered men by comparison tended to thrust more gently, to have shorter thrusts, and tended to be in contact with the mons pubis and clitoris more, according to 71% of the respondents. Women with intact partners had a higher rate of orgasms than women with circumcised partners. O'Hara & O'Hara concluded:

|title=33 Photographs of the foreskin (Non-PornagraphicPornographic)

* [httphttps://www.noharmmforeskinfunction.org/advantage.htm The Foreskin AdvantageFunctions of the foreskin]

[[Category:From IntactipediaForeskin anatomy]]

 [[Category:Foreskin anatomyFrom Intactipedia]]