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----==Structure==
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replace <coauthors> parameter
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
|last=Cold
|first=CJC.J.
|author-link=
|last2=Taylor
|first2=JRJ.R.
|title=The prepuce
|trans-title=
<blockquote>
"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: 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."<ref>{{REFjournal
| last=Purpura | first=V.
|last2=Bondioli
|first2=E.
|author2-link=
|last3=Cunningham
|first3=EJE.J.
|author3-link=
|etal=yes
| title=The development of a decellularized extracellular matrix–based biomaterial scaffold derived from human foreskin for the purpose of foreskin reconstruction in circumcised males | journal=Journal of Tissue Engineering | date=2018 | volume=9 | issue= | pages=1-11 | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2041731418812613 | quote= | pubmedID=30622692 | pubmedCID=PMC6304708 | DOI=10.1177/2041731418812613 | accessdate=2019-09-25
}}</ref></blockquote>
The foreskin (also known as the 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.<ref name="cold-taylor1999" /> The foreskin comprises more than fifty percent of the epithelium of the penis.<ref name="taylor1996>{{REFjournal
|last=Taylor
|first=JRJ.R.
|author-link=
|last2=Lockwood
|first2=APA.P.
|author2-link=
|last3=Taylor
|first3=AJ |author3-link= |last4= |first4= |author4-link= |last5= |first5= |author5-link= |last6= |first6= |author6-link= |last7= |first7= |author7-link= |last8= |first8= |author8-link= |last9= |first9= |author9-link= |etal=noA.J.
|title=The prepuce: specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision
|trans-title=
|author-link=
|last2=Prakash
|first2=S |author2-link= |last3= |first3= |author3-link= |last4= |first4= |author4-link= |last5= |first5= |author5-link= |last6= |first6= |author6-link= |last7= |first7= |author7-link= |last8= |first8= |author8-link= |last9= |first9= |author9-link= |etal=no.
|title=Human prepuce: some aspects of structure and function
|trans-title=
}}</ref> The [[gliding action]] reduces the friction of intercourse and helps to prevent abrasions, while conserving vaginal lubrication and moisture.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Warren
|first=JJohn |author-link=John Warren
|last2=Bigelow
|first2=JJim |author2-link= |last3= |first3= |author3-link= |last4= |first4= |author4-link= |last5= |first5= |author5-link= |last6= |first6= |author6-link= |last7= |first7= |author7-link= |last8= |first8= |author8-link= |last9= |first9= |author9-link= |etal=noJim Bigelow
|title=The case against circumcision
|journal=Brit J Sex Med
|date=1994 Sept/Oct
The epithelium of the outer layer of the foreskin is true skin while the epithelium of the inner layer is mucosal membrane. There is a mucocutaneous boundary at the tip of the foreskin. The mucocutaneous junction is a specific erogenous zone.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Winkelmann
|first=RKR.K.
|author-link=
|title=The erogenous zones: their nerve supply and significance
|journal=Mayo Clin Proc
|date=1959-01-21
}}</ref>
The layer of dartos muscle is contained within the foreskin. 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
}}</ref>
The [[ridged band]] area is found at the mucocutaneous junction. The ridged band area is characterized by rete ridges with Meissner’s corpuscles in the ridges.<ref name="taylor1996" />
==Protective functions==
The foreskin provides physical protection to the glans penis and inner mucosa, protecting the mucosal tissue from pathogens, pollutants, friction, injury, and drying out.. The foreskin protects the glans penis and meatus from abrasion and irritation from ammoniacal diapers.<ref name="gairdner1949">{{REFjournal
|last=Gairdner
|first=D.
|author-link=
|title=The fate of the foreskin: a study of circumcision.
|journal=Brit Med J
|date=1949-12-24
}}</ref> <ref name="dobanavacki2012">{{REFjournal
|last=Dobanavacki
|first=D.
|author-link=
|last2=Lucić Prostran
|first2=B.
|author2-link=
|last3=Sarac
|first3=D.
|author3-link=
|etal=yes
|title=Prepuce in boys and adolescents: what when, and how?
|journal=Med Pregl
|date=2012
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=MMorten |author-link=Morten Frisch
|last2=Simonsen
|first2=J.
|author2-link=
|title=Cultural background, non-therapeutic circumcision and the risk of meatal stenosis and other urethral stricture dis-ease: Two nationwide register-based cohort studies in Denmark 1977-2013
|trans-title=
|accessdate=
}}</ref> Frisch & Simonsen (2016) reported the incidence of meatal stenosis to be 3.7 times higher in circumcised boys.<ref name="frisch2016" />
While the outer foreskin layer is an extension of the penile shaft skin, the inner foreskin layer, which lies flat against the glans,<ref name="prakash1">
{{REFjournal
| last=Prakash | first=S. | coauthorslast2=Raghuram |first2=R, . |last3=Venkatesan, ''et al''. |etal=yes | title=Sub-preputial wetness - Its nature | journal=Ann Nat Med Sci (India) | date=1982 | volume=18 | issue=3 | pages=109-12 | url=http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/prakash/ | quote= | pubmedID= | pubmedCID= | DOI= | accessdate=2019-10-14
}}</ref> is a mucous membrane. The inner layer is an extraordinarily complex tissue. It contains apocrine glands which produce Cathepsin B, lysozymes, chymotrypsin, neutrophil elastase, cytokines and pheromones such as androsterone.<ref>{{REFjournal
| last=Fleiss | first=Paul M. | coauthorsauthor-link=Paul M. Fleiss |last2=Hodges |first2=F.M. |author2-link=Frederick M. Hodges FM, |last3=Van Howe |first3=R.S. |author3-link=Robert Van Howe RS | title=Immunological functions of the human prepuce | journal=Sex Trans Inf | date=1998-10-01 | volume=7 | issue=5 | pages=364-7 | url=http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/STD/fleiss3/ | quote= | pubmedID=10195034 | pubmedCID=1758142 | DOI=10.1136/sti.74.5.364 | accessdate=2019-09-29}}</ref> Indian scientists have shown that the subpreputial moisture contains lytic material which has an antibacterial and antiviral effect.<ref name="lakshmanan-prakash1980" /> The natural oils lubricate, moisten and protect the mucous membranes of both the glans and the inner foreskin layer.<ref name = "prakash1" /> The tip of the foreskin is supplied with ample amounts of blood through important blood vessels.<ref>Dr. med. Wolfram Hartmann, Stellungnahme zur Anhörung am 26. November 2012 im Rechtsausschuss des Bundestages</ref>
The foreskin serves as a pathway for many significant veins. In addition the foreskin is saturated with very many nerve endings and tactile corpuscles, the same receptors that exist in the fingertips. The enormous density of nerves and mechanoreceptors make the foreskin the most sensitive part of the body, approximately 10 times more sensitive than the fingertips. This also distinguishes the human penis from those of other mammals, which in contrast have the main concentration of nerves in the glans, and not in the foreskin.