Changes

Anatomical investigations have identified the prepuce as a primary erogenous zone in humans.<ref name="ErogenousZones">{{WinkelmannRK 1959}}</ref> Falliers (1970) commented on the "sensory pleasure induced by tactile stimulation of the foreskin."<ref name="falliers1970">{{REFjournal |last=WinkelmannFalliers |first= |init=RKCJ |author-link= |etal=no |title="The Erogenous Zones: Their nerve supply and significance"Circumcision |trans-title= |language= |journal=Proceedings of the staff meetings of the Mayo ClinicJAMA |location= |date=1970-12 |volume=34214 |issue=212 |article= |page=2194 |pages=39-47 |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomygeneral/winkelmannfalliers1/ |archived=

|pubmedID=136457905536586

|date=1959 |accessdate=20192021-0911-1017}}</ref>

For over a hundred years, anatomical research has confirmed that both the penile and clitoral prepuce ([[foreskin]]) are richly innervated, specific erogenous tissue with specialised encapsulated (corpuscular) sensory receptors, such as [[Meissner's corpuscles]], <ref name="garcía-mesa2021">{{REFjournal |last=García-Mesa |first=Yolanda |init= |author-link= |last2=García-Piqueras |first2=Jorge |init2= |author2-link= |last3=Cobo |first3=Ramón |init3= |author3-link= |last4=Martín-Cruces |first4=José |init4= |author4-link= |last5=Suazo |first5=Iván |init5= |author5-link= |last6=García-Suárez |first6=Olivia |init6= |author6-link= |last7=Feito |first7=Jorge |init7= |author7-link= |last8= |first8=Vega |init8=José A. |author8-link= |etal=no |title=Sensory innervation of the human male prepuce: Meissner's corpuscles predominate |trans-title= |language= |journal=Journal of Anatomy |location= |date=2021-10 |volume=239 |issue=4 |article= |page= |pages=892-902 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joa.13481 |archived= |quote= |pubmedID=34120333 |pubmedCID=8450466 |DOI=10.1111/joa.13481 |accessdate=2021-11-15}}</ref> Pacinian corpuscles, genital corpuscles, Krause end bulbs, Ruffini corpuscles, and mucocutaneous corpuscles. These receptors transmit sensations of fine touch, pressure, proprioception, and temperature.<ref name="Nervenendigungen">{{REFjournal

|accessdate=2021-06-21

|trans-title=About the nerve end apparatuses in the human [[skin]]

|accessdate=2021-06-21

|accessdate=2021-06-21

|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/525127

|accessdate=2021-06-21

|url=https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Citation/1958/10000/Innervation_of_the_Human_Vulva_and_Vagina__A.4.aspx

|accessdate=2021-06-21

|firstinit=AB

|first2init2=W

The two primary sensory receptors in primate [[skin ]] are free nerve endings and encapsulated or corpuscular receptors. While free nerve endings (pain, itch, and temperature receptors) are found in most [[skin]], the encapsulated receptors are concentrated in regions that require specialised touch sensitivity, such as at the fingertips, lips, external genitalia, perianal [[skin]], and transition areas between [[skin ]] and [[Mucosa| mucous membranes]].<ref>{{REFbook

The Innervation innervation of the [[foreskin ]] is impressive <ref>{{REFjournal

}}</ref> The [[foreskin ]] is what's known as a ''specific erogenous zone''.<ref name="ErogenousZones"/> This means that it is richly equipped with a high density and concentration of specialized and sophisticated nerve receptors that convey pleasure.<ref name="garcía-mesa2021" /> The presence of specialized nerves, nerves that do no not exist elsewhere, make this part of the [[penis ]] especially important. Consequently, this has been studied in detail by respected anatomists for over a century, who have transformed their knowledge by detailed empirical observation of the nerves that are present in the [[foreskin]].

As the most richly innervated part of the [[penis]], the [[foreskin ]] has the largest number of nerve receptors, as well as the greatest variety of nerve receptors. <ref name="garcía-mesa2021"/> These specialized nerve endings include:

* [[Meissner's corpuscles]],<ref name="garcía-mesa2021"/><ref name="Mucosa">{{REFjournal |last=Taylor |init=JR |author-link=John R. Taylor |last2=Lockwood |init2=AP |last3=Taylor |init3=AJ |title=The prepuce: Specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision |journal=BJU Int |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=291-295 |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor/ |quote= |pubmedID=8800902 |pubmedCID= |DOI= |date=TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996 |accessdate=2020-04-30}}</ref>

* genital and end bulbs <ref>{{REFjournal

|title=The neuroanatomical basis for the protopathic sensibility og of the human glans penis

These remarkable organs provide the [[foreskin ]] with its amazing ability to detect the slightest sensations of touch, motion, temperature, and pressure. We are still unaware of all the facts about these fascinating structures. Future research may discover even more nerve receptors in the foreskin and help clarify what purposes they serve.The primary zones of erogenous sensitivity are the [[frenulum]], [[ridged band]] of [[Preputial mucosa|mucosa]], and the preputial orifice and the external fold of the [[foreskin]]. All of these zones are orgasmic triggers. Continuous gentle stimulation of any one of these areas can elicit pleasure, [[erection]], orgasm, and ejaculation. Some men report that simple retraction of their foreskin causes [[erection]].

Distributed on various areas of the [[skin]], but concentrated in areas especially sensitive to light touch, such as the fingers, lips, nipples and foreskin.<ref>{{REFjournal

|last=Martini and |last2=Bartholomew

|last=Afifi and |last2=Bergman

}}</ref> They are concentrated in areas of the body denoted as erogenous zones, which include the foreskin, [[clitoris]], lip and nipple.<ref name="ErogenousZones"/> J. R. Taylor (1996) noted their presence in the foreskin,<ref name="Mucosa"/> and C.J. Cold & Taylor (1999) reported "Most of the encapsulated receptors of the foreskin are [[Meissner's corpuscles|Meissner corpuscles]], as they contact the epithelial basement membrane."<ref>{{

}}</ref> Dong et al. (2007) reported that the quantity of [[Meissner's corpuscles]] on the fused smooth [[mucosa ]] of the foreskin decline with age, but not on the ridged band.<ref>{{REFjournal

In 1991 the [[ridged band]] of the male prepuce were was identified as a concentrated area of corpuscular receptors.<ref name="Mucosa"/>

The [[foreskin ]] has important sexual nerve receptors that are removed during [[circumcision]].<ref name="CutaneousInnervation"/><ref name="ErogenousZones"/><ref name="Mucosa"/><refname="cold1999">{{REFjournal

}}</ref> [[Circumcision ]] removes the most sensitive part of a man's [[penis]]. The five most sensitive areas of the [[penis ]] are on the [[foreskin]]. The transitional region from the external to the internal foreskin is the most sensitive region of the fully [[intact ]] penis, and more sensitive than the most sensitive region of the [[circumcised ]] [[penis]].<ref name="FineTouchPressure">{{REFjournal

In a 2007 study, which was published in ''BJU International''. They physically measured the sensitivity of all the parts of the [[penis]]. They used a very accurate pressure sensing probe while the test subject, who’s view was blocked with a screen, reported a sensation of touch. To demonstrate precision they took each measurement multiple times. To no surprise, their results corroborated with the neuro-anatomy that has been discussed previously.

"Five locations on the [[uncircumcisedforeskinned]] [[penis ]] that are routinely removed at [[circumcision ]] were more sensitive than the most sensitive location on the circumcised penis[...] The [[glans ]] in the [[circumcised ]] male is less sensitive to fine-touch pressure than the glans of the [[uncircumcised]] male[...]The most sensitive location on the circumcised penis is the [[circumcision scar ]] on the ventral surface [...] When compared to the most sensitive area of the [[circumcised ]] [[penis]], several locations on the [[uncircumcised]] penis that are missing from the [[circumcised ]] [[penis ]] were significantly more sensitive."<ref name="FineTouchPressure"/>

== AAP brushes off findings as inconclusive discards its former Circumcision Policy Statement ==

In the [[AAP]]'s 2012 Circumcision Task force report, the issues of sensitivity reduction were given obligatory mention but largely glossed over, and little space was devoted to the topic. The 2012 Task Force Report received [[American_Academy_of_Pediatrics#Criticism| overwhelmingly heavy critical comment]]. The purpose of the disastrous, now expired AAP 2012 report was to encourage neonatal non-therapeutic [[circumcision]] and [[third-party payment]] so little or nothing was said about the multiple functions of the [[foreskin]]. <ref name="hill2013">{{REFdocument |title=Commentary on American Academy of Pediatrics 2012 Circumcision Policy Statement |url=https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/commentary-on-american-academy-of-pediatrics-2012-circumcision-policy-statement.pdf |contribution= |last=Hill |first=George |publisher=[[Doctors Opposing Circumcision (D.O.C.)]] |format=PDF |date=2013-04-01 |accessdate=2022-04-02}}</ref> The failed 2012 AAP Circumcision Policy expired in 2017 and has not been re-affirmed or re-validated in any way. The AAP currently has ''no '' circumcision policyand does ''not'' recommend [[circumcision]] of boys.

At right is an easy-to-understand illustration of the Sorrells study<ref name="FineTouchPressure" /> showing the loss of tissues. Tissues show in color their relative sensitivity thresholds to light touch. sensitive tissue. On the infographic's opposite side: The AAP's expressed skepticism (quotes from their now expired 2012 Circumcision task force report) on whether loss of all that erogenous tissue could really affect sexual enjoyment.