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The layer of [[dartos]] muscle is contained within the foreskin.<ref name="cold-taylor1999 /> The dartos muscle keeps the foreskin snugly against the glans. The fibers of the dartos muscle form a whorl at the tip that functions as a sphincter. The sphincter opens to allow urine to flow out, but closes to protect the penis from foreign matter, contaminants, and pathogens.<ref name="lakshmanan-prakash1980"/><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}}</ref> 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"/>
* {{REFweb
|url=http://www.intactaus.org/information/functionsoftheforeskin/
|title=Functions of the Foreskin
|trans-title=
|language=
|last=Hely
|first=Lou
|author-link=
|publisher=
|website=Intact Australia
|date=
|accessdate=2019-11-17
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Revise text.
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.
The nature of the prepuce or foreskin, which is amputated and destroyed by circumcision, must be considered and fully understood in any discussion of male [[circumcision]].<ref name="cold-taylor1999">{{REFjournal
|issue=
|pages=291-5
|url=httphttps://onlinelibrarywww.wileyarclaw.comorg/doiwp-content/10.1046uploads/j.1464Taylor-Prepuce-SpecMucosa-BJU-410X.1996.85023.x/fullpdf
|quote=
|pubmedID=8800902
|DOI=
|accessdate=2019-10-14
}}</ref> Taylor ''et al''. reported:<blockquote>The vascular ridges of the `ridged band' and its [[Meissner's corpuscles]] 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 body and focused on mucocutaneous end-organs, or `genital corpuscles', of the glans penis and prepuce. Some of these end-organs resemble Krause end-bulbs; others resemble [[Meissner's corpuscles]]. … [[Meissner's corpuscles]] of the prepuce may be compared with similar nerve-endings in the finger-tips and lips, which respond in a fraction of a second to contact with light objects that bring about deformation of their capsules. … 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" /> </blockquote>
As with other neurologic structures such as the brain, the tip of the prepuce is richly supplied with blood by important vascular structures.<ref name="taylor1996"/> The prepuce serves as a conduit for several important veins.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{REFjournal
|DOI=10.1111/j.1464-410x.1995.tb07242.x
|accessdate=2019-10-15
}}</ref> The adult foreskin frequently has prominent visible veins.
The layer of [[dartos]] muscle is contained within the foreskin.<ref name="cold-taylor1999 /> The dartos muscle keeps the foreskin snugly against the glans. The fibers of the dartos muscle form a whorl at the tip that functions as a sphincter. The sphincter opens to allow urine to flow out, but closes to protect the penis from foreign matter, contaminants, and pathogens.<ref name="lakshmanan-prakash1980"/><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
}}</ref>
The tapered tip of a longer foreskin that protrudes beyond the [[glans penis]] is known as the ''[[acroposthion]]''.
==Physiological functions==
=== Protective functions ===
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
|last=Gairdner
|first=D.
}}</ref>
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
|last=Frisch
|first=Morten
|first2=J.
|author2-link=
|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
|trans-title=
|language=
|accessdate=2019-10-23
}}</ref> Frisch & Simonsen (2016) reported the incidence of meatal stenosis to be 3.7 times higher in circumcised boys.<ref name="frisch2016"/>
The foreskin continues to protect the glans penis throughout life, keeping it smooth, glossy, moist, sensitive, and free from [[keratinization]].
=== Immunological functions ===
The foreskin is highly vascularized. The high rate of blood flow helps to prevent infection.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/>
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
|last=Boyle
|first=Gregory J.
=== Sexual functions ===
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
|last=Morgan
|first=W.K.C.
Taylor ''et al.'' (1996) carried out a histological study of the foreskin. (Histology is the microscopic examination of cells and tissues.) Taylor ''et al''. found an area of rete ridges just inside the tip of the foreskin that he called the [[ridged band]]. The ridges were found to have nerve endings at the top of the ridges. They report that the ridged band area moves to the shaft of the penis when the penis becomes erect where the nerves are subject to stimulation. They stated:
<blockquote>
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" />
</blockquote>
Moses Maimonides, a Jewish rabbi and physician, stated in the 12th century:
{{Citation
|Text=''It is hard for a woman with whom an uncircumcised man has had sexual intercourse to separate from him''.
|Author=[[Moses Maimonides]]
|ref=<ref>{{REFbook
The foreskin in childhood is fused with the glans penis by a [[synechia]].-->
{{SEEALSO}}
* [[Acroposthion]]
* [[Foreskin Care for Boys]]
* [[Foreskin in Motion]]
* [[Foreskin sensitivity]]
* [[Frenulum]]
* [[Immunological and protective function of the foreskin]]
* [[Retraction of the foreskin]]
* [[Ridged band]]
* [[The Foreskin and Why You Should Keep It (book)]]
{{LINKS}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://madsciencewriter.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-foreskin-why-is-it-such-secret-in.html?m=1
|quote=
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=http://gaamerica.org/symposia/second/denniston2.html
|date=1991-05
|accessdate=2019-12-20
|format=
|quote=
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=http://www.intactaus.org/information/functionsoftheforeskin/
|archived=
|title=Functions of the Foreskin
|trans-title=
|language=English
|last=Hely
|first=Lou
|author-link=
|publisher=Intact Australia
|website=
|date=2014-08-01
|accessdate=2020-05-29
|format=
|quote=
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://circumcision.org/functions-of-the-foreskin/
|archived=
|title=Functions of the Foreskin
|trans-title=
|language=English
|last=Goldman
|first=Ronald
|author-link=Ronald Goldman
|publisher=Circumcision Resource Center
|website=circumcision.org
|date=
|accessdate=2020-07-01
|format=
|quote=
*{{REFweb
|url=http://www.foreskin.org/
|title=33 Photographs of the foreskin (Non-PornagraphicPornographic)
|trans-title=
|language=
|quote=
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/for-professionals/the-prepuce/
|quote=To provide informed, respectful care to males with intact genitals, and to fully understand the harms of circumcision, health professionals must have a thorough grasp of the anatomy, development, and functions of the foreskin (also known as the prepuce).
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=http://www.circumstitions.com/Works.html
|quote=
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://www.i2researchhub.org/articles/ch-2-the-prepuce-doc-genital-integrity-statement/
|format=
|quote=
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=http://www.noharmm.org/advantage.htm
|title=The Foreskin Advantage
|first=Gary L
|last=Harryman
|publisher=NORM/Southern California
|website=[[NOHARMM]]
|accessdate=2020-06-30
}}
* {{REFjournal
|last=Fleiss
|first=Paul
|author-link=
|title=The foreskin is necessary
|journal=Mothering
|date=1997-01
|volume=
|issue=
|pages=36-45
|url=http://www.noharmm.org/mothering.htm
|accessdate=2020-06-29
}}
* [httphttps://www.noharmmforeskinfunction.org/advantage.htm The Foreskin AdvantageFunctions of the foreskin]
{{REF}}
[[Category:From IntactipediaForeskin anatomy]]
[[Category:Genitals]]
[[Category:Parental information]]
[[Category:Penile anatomy]]
[[Category:Foreskin anatomyFrom Intactipedia]]
[[de:Vorhaut]]