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Male Genitalia 101 July 17 2007 The Basics of Male Genitalia Despite many similarities the diversity in male genitalia is vast. Men’s genitals, inside and out, can look and function very differently from one man to the next, and in the same man over time. Below you’ll find a description of male genitalia, with links to more information on how the different parts of male genitalia work, what they look like, and what impact they have on male sexuality. The best way to learn about your body is to have a look, on your own, at a time and place where you have plenty of privacy. Most people think that because “it’s all hanging out there” guys know everything about their bodies. But men are usually only encouraged to look at themselves in a competitive and functional way. We tend to take what we get and don’t bother to look for possible points of pleasure unless they are immediately apparent. The Penis The penis is made up of spongy erectile tissue, which fills with blood when a man is turned on or aroused and usually becomes erect. Penises come in all sizes, and penis size in almost all cases has nothing to do with how a penis works or how well a penis works. There are several different parts to the penis, each of which has some impact on feeling sexual arousal and pleasure. Scrotum and Testicles The scrotum is the loose pouch of skin containing the testicles (or “balls”). The primary function of the scrotum is to protect the testicles, which are very sensitive to pain, and which also need to keep an even body temperature to function properly. The testicles serve two main functions: producing sperm and producing testosterone. Prostate Gland The prostate gland is about the size of a chestnut and can be found near the root of the penis (the place inside your body where the penis starts) and just below the bladder. The prostate gland produces part of the ejaculatory fluid (also called seminal fluid). Perineum The male perineum is the area between the scrotum and the anus. During sexual arousal the perineum can become sensitive, and can be another site of sexual stimulation and pleasure. Massaging the perineum can also provide indirect prostate stimulation and stimulation of the root of the penis, both of which are above the perineum inside the body. PC Muscle The pubic bone is surrounded by a sling of muscles called the pubococcygeus muscles (or “PC muscle” for short). These muscles play a vital part in your sexual health, and control of them can help men learn ejaculatory control. Once a man locates the pc muscles, he can do special exercises, called kegels can be done my men to strengthen and control their pc muscles. Anus Not usually thought of as a part of ones sexual anatomy (because it has no role in reproduction) the anus can be a site of great sexual pleasure and many people enjoy anal play as part of their sexual repertoire. Male Sexual Anatomy - Parts of the Penis The penis is made up of spongy erectile tissue, which fills with blood when a man is turned on or aroused and usually becomes erect. Penises come in all sizes, and penis size in almost all cases has nothing to do with how a penis works or how well a penis works. There are several different parts to the penis, each of which has some impact on feeling sexual arousal and pleasure. Penis Shaft The shaft of the penis is the part that extends out of the body to the tip of the penis. When flaccid (no erect) the skin on the shaft of the penis will be loose and stretchy. While many people think that the shaft of the penis is not as sensitive as the head, some men have areas on the shaft that are highly sensitive. Glans Penis The head of the penis is called the glans, and at the tip is the urethral opening (where both urine and semen come out). The glans is a highly sensitive area, with many nerve endings. The glans is often considered to be similar in function to the clitoris in the woman, and the tissue that the glans develops out of is the same tissue that the clitoris develops from. Frenulum The frenulum is the indentation on the underside of the penis where the glans meets the shaft. For most men the frenulum is an area of great sensitivity. In some cases the frenulum can be short on a man, a condition called frenulum breve , which can cause sex play and intercourse to be painful. Foreskin Almost all men are born with a foreskin, which is the skin that covers the glans when the penis is flaccid. When the penis is erect, the foreskin retracts to just below the head. Men who are circumcised have had their foreskins removed, so the glans is exposed at all times. There is tremendous debate about the practice of circumcision for religious, cultural, and medical purposes. There is also debate about the connection between circumcision and sexuality. Inside the Penis Despite the countless slang terms for the penis (boner, rod, etc…) and men’s bravado about their sexual strength, the penis has no bones and no muscle in it. An erection happens as a result of stimulation and blood flow (and sometimes as a reflex). Inside the penis are three spongy tubes, two on top and one on the bottom. The bottom one also has the urethra running through it. An erection happens when blood flows into the penis and fills the tissue making it firm. Erectile dysfunctions usually occur as a result of some problem with getting the blood to the penis, having enough of it flow in, or keeping the blood there. Urethra The urethra is the tube through which urine and semen pass to get out of the body. The urethra runs from the bladder to the tip of the penis. In the process of normal functioning there are certain passages that are blocked and others that open up to insure that semen flows out of the urethra and not into the bladder, however problems can happen which cause semen to not be expelled. The urethra is also a source of sexual pleasure for some men. Some men like the feeling of stimulation right at the urethral opening (which is called meatus) and others will stimulate the urethra itself. Internal urethral stimulation can cause serious harm, and it should only be engaged in with a great deal of education and care |