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'''Ballooning of the foreskin''' occurs when [[urine]] flows out of the [[urethra]] of the [[penis]] faster than it flows out of the [[foreskin]] of an [[intact]] boy. Ballooning cannot occur until the inner layer of the foreskin has separated from the [[glans penis]] to which it is attached by a [[synechia]]. <ref>{{REFweb |url=https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/how-care-your-childs-foreskin |title=How To Care For Your Child's Foreskin |publisher=KidsHealth of New Zealand |date=2020-06-04 |accessdate=2023-01-26}}</ref> Although ballooning is a developmentally normal condition, not every boy experiences ballooning. Ballooning may cause some transient, temporary discomfort if it pulls apart the synechial connection to the glans penis.
The layer of [[dartos]] muscle in the foreskin keeps the tip closed to protect the penis from [[infection]].<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref> The pressure of the [[urine]] is necessary to open it to allow passage of [[urine]]. The pressure is what causes the ballooning.