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Anatomical investigations have identified the prepuce as a primary erogenous zone in humans.<refname="ErogenousZones"> {{REFjournal | last=Winkelmann, | first=R.K. | coauthors= | title="The Erogenous Zones: Their nerve supply and significance." Proceedings of the staff meetings of the Mayo Clinic. | journal= | volume=34. | issue=2 (1959): | pages=39-47. Print. [ | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13645790?dopt=Abstract PMID | quote= | pubmedID=13645790] | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1959 | accessdate=2019-09-10}}</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, Pacinian corpuscles, genital corpuscles, Krause end bulbs, Ruffini corpuscles, and mucocutaneous corpuscles. These receptors transmit sensations of fine touch, pressure, proprioception, and temperature.<refname="Nervenendigungen">{{REFjournal | last=Dogiel, | first=A.S. " | coauthors= | title=Die Nervenendigungen in der Schloemhaut Schleimhaut der ausseren äusseren Genitalorgane des Menschen." Aroh. f. mikr. Anat. | journal=Archiv für Mikroskopische Anatomie | volume=41. (1893): | issue= | pages=585-612. Print. | url= | quote= | pubmedID= | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1893 | accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{REFjournal | last=Dogiel AS | first=A.S. | coauthors= | title=Über die Nervenendapparate in der Haut des Menschen. | journal=Ztschr Wiss Zool 1903; | volume=75: | issue= | pages=46-111. | url= | quote= | pubmedID= | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1903 | accessdate=}}</ref><refname="Ohmori">{{REFjournal | last=Ohmori, | first=D. "Enwickling | coauthors= | title=Über die Entwicklung der Innervation der Genital Apparatus Genitalapparate als peripheren Aufnahme-Apparat Aufnahmeapperat der genitalen Reflex." Ztscr. f. d. ges. Genitalen Reflexe | journal=Zeitschrift fur Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte | volume=70. (1924): | issue=1 | pages=347-410. Print. | url= | quote= | pubmedID= | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1924 | accessdate=}}</ref><ref>Yamada K. Studies in the innervation in tenth month human embryo. Tohoku J Exper Med 1951:54:151. Yamada K. On the sensory nerve terminations in clitoris in human adult. Tohoku J Exper Med 1951;54:163- 74.</ref><refname="CutaneousInnervation">{{REFjournal | last=Winkelmann, | first=R.K. " | coauthors= | title=The cutaneous innervation of human newborn prepuce." | journal=Journal of investigative dermatology | volume=26. | issue=1 (1956) | pages=53–67 | url=http: 53–67//www.ncbi.nlm. Webnih.[gov/pubmed/13295637?dopt=Abstract | quote= | pubmedID=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13295637?dopt=Abstract PMID 13295637] | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1956 | accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{REFjournal | last=Winkelmann RK | first=R. K. | coauthors= | title=The mucocutaneous end-organ. | journal=Arch Dermatol 1957; | volume=76: | issue= | pages=225-35.235 | url= | quote= | pubmedID= | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1957 | accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{REFjournal | last=Krantz KE | first=K.E. | coauthors= | title=Innervation of the human vulva and vagina: a microscopic study. | journal=Obstet Gynecol 1958; | volume=12: | issue= | pages=382-96. | url= | quote= | pubmedID= | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1958 | accessdate=}}</ref><ref>Winkelmann, R.K. name="The Erogenous Zones: Their nerve supply and significance.ErogenousZones" Proceedings of the staff meetings of the Mayo Clinic. 34.2 (1959): 39-47. Print. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13645790?dopt=Abstract PMID 13645790]</ref><ref>{{REFbook | last=Butler AB, Hodos W. | first= | year=1996 | title=Comparative Vertebrate Neuroanatomy: Evolution and Adaptation. | url= | work= | editor= | edition=26 | volume= | chapter= | pages= | location= | publisher=Wiley-Liss, 1996:26 Print. ISBN | isbn=0471210056 | quote= | accessdate= | note=}}</ref>
== Nerve types ==
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 mucous membranes.<ref>Stenn KS, Bhawan J. The normal histology of the skin. in: Farmer ER. Hood AF. eds. Pathology of the Skin. Norwalk, CT: Appleton and Lange. 1990.</ref>
The Innervation of the foreskin is impressive <ref>Moldwin RM, Valderrama E. Immunohistochemical analysis of nerve distribution patterns within preputial tissues. J Urol 1989 Apr;141(4):499A. (abstract)</ref>The foreskin is what's known as a specific erogenous zone.<ref>Winkelmann RK. The erogenous zones: their nerve supply and its significance. Proceedings of the staff meetings of the Mayo Clinic 1959 Jan21(2):39-47<name="ErogenousZones"/ref>This means that it is richly equipped with a high density and concentration of specialized and sophisticated nerve receptors that convey pleasure.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. These specialized nerve endings include:
* Meissner's corpuscles, <refname="Mucosa">{{REFjournal | last=Taylor JR, Lockwood AP, Taylor AJ. | first= | coauthors= | title=The prepuce: specialized musocsa Specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision. Br J Urol 1996 Feb; | journal=British Journal of Urology International | volume=77( | issue=2): | pages=291-5295 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8800902?dopt=Abstract | quote= | pubmedID=8800902 | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=1996 | accessdate=}}</ref>
* free nerve endings, end bulbs of Krause, <ref>Dogiel AS. Die name="Nervenendigungen in der Haut der ausseren Genitalorgane des Menschen. Archiv fur Mikroskopische Anatomie 1893:41:585-612<"/ref><refname="Depth">{{REFjournal | last=Bazett HC, McGlone B, Williams RG, Lufkin HM. | first= | coauthors= | title=Depth, distribution and probable identification in the prepuce of sensory end-organs concerned in sensations of temperature and touch; thermometric conductivity. | journal=Archives of Neurology and psychiatry 1932 Mar; | volume=27( | issue=3): | pages=489-517 | url= | quote= | pubmedID= | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=March 1932 | accessdate=}}</ref>
* Corpuscles of Ruffini, <ref>Bazett HC, McGlone B, Williams RG, Lufkin HM. name="Depth, distribution and probable identification in the prepuce of sensory end-organs concerned in sensations of temperature and touch; thermometric conductivity. Archives of Neurology and psychiatry 1932 Mar; 27(3):489-517<"/ref>
* Pacinian corpuscles, <ref>name="Ohmori D. Uber die Entwicklung der Innervation der Genitalapparate als peripheren Aufnahmeapperat der Genitalen Reflexe. Zeitschrift fur Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte 1924;70(1):347-410.<"/ref>
* genital and bulbs <ref>Halata Z, Munger BL. The neuroanatomical basis for the protopathic sensibility og the human glans penis. Brain Res 1986 Apr23;371(2):205-30.</ref>
* Genital bodies, <ref>name="Ohmori D. Uber die Entwicklung der Innervation der Genitalapparate als peripheren Aufnahmeapperat der Genitalen Reflexe. Zeitschrift fur Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte 1924;70(1):347-410.<"/ref>
* Merkels disks, Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles, <ref>name="Ohmori D. Uber die Entwicklung der Innervation der Genitalapparate als peripheren Aufnahmeapperat der Genitalen Reflexe. Zeitschrift fur Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte 1924;70(1):347-410.<"/ref>
* and Vater-Pacinian corpuscles. <ref>Winkelmann RK. The Cutaneous Innervation of the human newborn prepuce. Invest Dermatol 1956 Jan;26(1):53-67<name="CutaneousInnervation"/ref>
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 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, orgasm, and ejaculation.
[[Image:Meissner's corpuscle.jpg|right|thumb|Meissner's corpuscle.]]
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>Cauna, Nikolajs, and Leonard L. Ross. "The fine structure of meissner's touch corpuscles of human fingers." Journal of Cell Biology. 8.2 (1960): 467-82. Print. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.8.2.467</ref><ref>Hoffmann et al. "Meissner corpuscles and somatosensory acuity." Anat Rec A Discov Mol Cell Evol Biol (2004): 1138-47. Web.</ref><ref>Bongiorno et al. "Neurofibromatosis of the nipple-areolar area: a case series." Journal of Medical Case Reports 4.22 (2010): n. pag. Web. 27 Dec 2010. DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-22</ref><ref> Martini and Bartholomew. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology. 3. Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2010. Print. </ref><ref>Afifi and Bergman. Functional neuroanatomy: text and atlas. McGraw-Hill Professional, 1998. 16. Print. ISBN 0070015899</ref> They are concentrated in areas of the body denoted as erogenous zones, which include the foreskin, clitoris, lip and nipple.<ref>Winkelmann, R.K. name="The Erogenous Zones: Their nerve supply and significance.ErogenousZones" Proceedings of the staff meetings of the Mayo Clinic. 34.2 (1959): 39-47. Print. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13645790?dopt=Abstract PMID 13645790]</ref> J.R. Taylor (1996) noted their presence in the foreskin,<ref name=> Taylor, J.R. "The prepuce: Specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision.Mucosa" British Journal of Urology International. 77. (1996): 291-95. Print. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8800902?dopt=Abstract PMID 8800902]</ref> and C.J. Cold & Taylor (1999) reported "Most of the encapsulated receptors of the foreskin are Meissner corpuscles, as they contact the epithelial basement membrane."<ref> C.J. Cold and J.R. Taylor. "The prepuce." British Journal of Urology International. 83. (1999): 34-44. Print [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10349413?dopt=Abstract PMID 10349413]</ref> Early observations were noted by A. S. Dogiel (1893),<ref>Dogiel, A.S. name="Die Nervenendigungen in der Schloemhaut der ausseren Genitalorgane des Menschen." Aroh. f. mikr. Anat. 41. (1893): 585-612. Print.</ref> D. Ohmori (1924),<ref>name="Ohmori, D. "Enwickling der Innervation der Genital Apparatus als peripheren Aufnahme-Apparat der genitalen Reflex." Ztscr. f. d. ges. 70. (1924): 347-410. Print.</ref> and H. C. Bazett (1935),<ref> Bazett, H.C. "Methods of investigation of sensation in man and the theoretical value of the results obtained." Proc. A. Research Nerv. & Ment. Dis. 15. (1935): 83-97. Print.</ref> reported the presence of Meissner's corpuscles in the foreskin. Haiyang ''et al.'' (2005) found and measured the density of Meissner's corpuscles on the foreskin.<ref>Haiyang et al. "Observation of Meissner's corpuscle in abundant prepuce and phimosis." Journal of Modern Urology (2005): n. pag. Web.</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>Dong et al. "Observation of Meissner's corpuscle on fused phimosis." Journal of Guangdong Medical College 2007: n. pag. Web. ISSN:1005-4057.0.2007-01-004</ref>
== Ridged Band ==
In 1991 the ridged bands of the male prepuce were identified as a concentrated area of corpuscular receptors.<ref>Taylor JR. The prepuce: What, exactly, is removed by circumcision: a preliminary report. In: Milos M,Richter L, Hodges F; eds. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Circumcision. 1991. SanAnselmo: NOCIRC. 1994.</p></ref><ref>Taylor, J.R. name="The prepuce: Specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision.Mucosa" British Journal of Urology International. 77. (1996): 291-95. Print. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8800902?dopt=Abstract PMID 8800902]</ref>
== Fine-touch sensitivity ==
[[Image:Fine-Touch-Pressure-Thresholds-in-the-Adult-Penis_IntactWiki.gif|right|thumb|Fine Touch Pressure Thresholds in the Adult Penis.]]
The foreskin has important sexual nerve receptors that are removed during circumcision.<ref>Winkelmann, R.K. name="The cutaneous innervation of human newborn prepuce.CutaneousInnervation" Journal of investigative dermatology 26.1 (1956): 53–67. Web.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13295637?dopt=Abstract PMID 13295637]</ref><ref>Winkelmann, R.K. name="The Erogenous Zones: Their nerve supply and significance.ErogenousZones" Proceedings of the staff meetings of the Mayo Clinic. 34.2 (1959): 39-47. Print. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13645790?dopt=Abstract PMID 13645790]</ref><ref>Taylor, J.R. name="The prepuce: Specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision.Mucosa" British Journal of Urology International. 77. (1996): 291-95. Print. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8800902?dopt=Abstract PMID 8800902]</ref><ref>C.J. Cold and J.R. Taylor. "The prepuce." British Journal of Urology International. 83. (1999): 34-44. Print [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10349413?dopt=Abstract PMID 10349413]</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.<refname="FineTouchPressure">{{REFjournal | last=Morris L. Sorrells, et alJames L. "Snyder | first= | coauthors= | title=Fine-touch pressure thresholds in the adult penis." | journal=BJU International | volume=99. | issue=4 (2007): 864–9. Web. [ | pages=864–869 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17378847?dopt=Abstract PMID | quote= | pubmedID=17378847] | pubmedCID= | DOI= | date=2007-10-22 | accessdate=2019-09-10}}</ref>
In a 2007 study, which was published in the British Medical Journal. 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 nero-anatomy that has been discussed previously.
"Five locations on the uncircumcised 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>Morris L. Sorrells, James L. Snyder. Fine-touch pressure thresholds in the adult penis . BJU 2007 Oct:22, pp. 864-869<name="FineTouchPressure"/ref>
[[Image:Sorrells_AAP.jpg|right|thumb|AAP skepticism that loss of foreskin could actually affect sex.]]