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-The '''penis''' (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'') or '''phallus''' is the external [[male]] [[sexual intercourse|copulatory]] [[organ (anatomy)|organ]], and, in [[mammal]]s, the external male organ of [[urination]]. It is [[homologous]] to the female [[clitoris]], as it develops from the same embryonic structure. The penis is capable of [[erection]] for use in [[copulation]].
-==The human penis==
-The human penis differs from some other mammalian penises by lacking an [[erectile bone]], instead relying entirely on engorgement with blood to reach its erect state. It also lacks the ability to be withdrawn into the groin, and is larger-than-average in proportion to body mass.
-===Structure===
-[[image:male anatomy.png|thumb|350px|Illustration of the human male anatomy.]]
-The human penis is made up of three columns of erectile [[biological tissue|tissue]]:
-* the two [[corpora cavernosa]] and
-* one [[corpus spongiosum]]
-The corpus spongiosum lies on the underside (known also as the [[anatomical position|ventral side]]) of the penis; the two corpora cavernosa lie next to each other on the upper side ([[anatomical position|dorsal side]]).
-The end of the corpus spongiosum is enlarged and cone-shaped and forms the [[glans penis]]. The glans supports the [[foreskin]] or prepuce, a loose fold of skin that in adults can retract to expose the glans. The area on the underside of the penis, where the foreskin is attached, is called the [[frenum]] (or frenulum).
-The [[urethra]], which is the last part of the [[urinary tract]], traverses the corpus spongiosum and its opening, known as the [[meatus]], lies on the tip of the glans penis. It is both a passage for [[urine]] and for the [[ejaculation]] of [[semen]]. Sperm is produced in the [[testes]] and stored in the attached [[epididymis]]. During ejaculation, sperm are propelled up the [[vas deferens]], two ducts that pass over and behind the bladder. Fluids are added by the [[seminal vesicle]]s and the vas deferens turns into the [[ejaculatory duct]]s which join the urethra inside the [[prostate gland]]. The prostate as well as the [[bulbourethral gland]]s add further secretions, and the semen is expelled through the penis.
-The [[raphe]] is the visible ridge between the [[lateral]] halves of the penis, found on the [[ventral]] or under side of the penis, running from the meatus (opening of the urethra) across the scrotum to the [[perineum]] (area between scrotum and anus).
-=== Relation to female genitals ===
-The glans of the penis is [[homologous]] to the [[clitoris|clitoral glans]], the corpora cavernosa are homologous to the body of the [[clitoris]], the corpus spongiosum is homologous to the [[vestibular bulb]]s beneath the labia minora, and the scrotum is homologous to the [[labia minora]], [[labia majora]] and [[clitoral hood]]. The raphe does not exist in females, because there the two halves are not connected.
-=== Erection ===
-''Main article: [[Erection]]''
-[[Image:Flaccid and erect human penis.jpg|thumb|right|200px| An uncircumcised penis in both flaccid and fully erect states; sexual arousal causes the [[scrotum]] to tighten, which explains the visibly smaller testicular sac in the rightmost image.]]
-[[Erection]] is a stiffening and rising of the penis which occurs in the [[sexual arousal|sexually aroused]] male. The primary physiological mechanism that brings about erection is the autonomic constriction of blood vessels at the base of the penis, which forces blood under pressure into the spongy erectile tissue along the length of the penile shaft, causing it to lengthen and stiffen as it fills with blood.
-The vasoconstrictive effects of the drug ''[[sildenafil]] citrate'' (marketed as Viagra&reg;) have been found to be efficacious in treating certain forms of [[impotence]] and [[erectile dysfunction]].
-Erection enables [[sexual intercourse]], though it is not essential, and some other [[sexual activities]]. Although the average erect penis points approximately horizontally, it is common and normal for an erect penis to have a wide range of vertical angles, from nearly vertically upward to nearly vertically downward, depending on the tension of the suspensory ligament which holds it in position when erect.
-===Size===
-''See main article [[penis size]]''
-In comparison to body size, the human male penis is among the largest of the [[primate]]s. One study has found that the average human penis is 5  [[inch]]es (13 [[cm]]) in length when fully engorged with blood during arousal, though this varies quite a bit. The size of a flaccid human penis has an even greater variation in both length and width that often does not correspond to the size when fully aroused. When a man with a relatively large flaccid penis has a normal or below average length penis when fully aroused, or when a man with a relatively small flaccid penis has a normal or above average length penis when fully aroused, they are sometimes known by the slang terms "showers" and "growers" respectively.
-===Normal variations===
-Depending on temperature, a flaccid (not erect) penis of normal size can withdraw almost completely within the body. Such a penis will be of normal size when erect - not unusually small.
-Other variations:
-* ''Pearly penile papules'' are raised bumps of somewhat paler color around the base of the glans and are normal. [http://www.studenthealth.co.uk/leaflets/NormalVariantsInAnogenitalSkin.htm (Picture of them on a human penis)]
-* [[Fordyce's spots]] are small, raised, yellowish-white spots 1-2mm in diameter which may appear on the penis, as well as the inner surface and [[vermilion border]] of the lips of the face, and are normal. See ''Pearly penile papules'' for a picture.
-* ''Sebaceous prominences'' are similar raised bumps on the shaft of the penis, located at the [[sebaceous gland]]s and are normal.
-* [[Phimosis]], an inability to retract the foreskin fully, is common and harmless in infants and pre-pubescent males, with only about 44 percent of boys having a fully retractable foreskin by age 10. See [[Phimosis]] for a more complete discussion.
-===Disorders affecting the penis===
-[[Oedema]] (swelling) of the foreskin can result from sexual activity, including [[masturbation]]. It appears worrying but so long as the foreskin is in its normal position and blood flow is present it's harmless. See ''paraphimosis'' for situations where the foreskin can't be moved to its normal position or the swelling persists. If the condition recurrs regularly, medical advice should be obtained, since it can be a symptom of conditions such as chronic heart disease. (''[http://www.links.net/vita/corp/catdick/ description of a case resulting from sexual activity, with pictures]'')
-''Pathological Phimosis''--where a non-retracting foreskin is accompanied by pain or physiological distress, or affects physical hygiene, requires treatment which can be surgical or non-surgical according to the severity of the condition.  See [[Phimosis]] for more details.
-[[Paraphimosis]] is an inability to move the foreskin forward over the glans. It can result from fluid trapped in a foreskin which is left retracted, perhaps following a medical procedure, or accumulation of fluid in the foreskin because of friction during vigorous sexual activity. Applying pressure to compress the glans, then moving the foreskin to its normal position is the initial procedure to follow, perhaps with the assistance of a lubricant. Placing the penis in normal granulated sugar can reduce the swelling via osmosis. If the condition persists for more than several hours or there's a sign of lack of blood flow, a hard glans with no erection or an inability to urinate, it should be treated as a medical emergency.
-In [[Peyronie's disease]], anomalous scar tissue grows in the soft tissue of the penis.
-[[Pudendal nerve entrapment]] is a condition characterized by pain on sitting and loss of penile (or clitoral) sensation and orgasm.  Occasionally there is a total loss of sensation and orgasm.  The [[pudendal nerve]] can be damaged by narrow hard cycle seats and accidents.
-[[Penile fracture]] can occur if the erect penis is bent excessively. A pop or cracking sound and pain is normally associated with this event. Emergency medical assistance should be obtained, after which long term consequences are usually prevented. In one study [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410X.1996.86420.x/abs/], the few patients suffering permanent penile curvature were the ones who had waited longest before seeking treatment.
-In [[diabetes]], [[peripheral neuropathy]] can cause tingling in the penile skin and possibly reduced or completely absent sensation. The reduced sensations can lead to injuries for either partner and their absence can make it impossible to have sexual pleasure through stimulation of the penis. Since the problems are caused by permanent nerve damage, preventative treatment through good control of the diabetes is the primary treatment. Some limited recovery may be possible through improved diabetes control.
-[[Impotence]], sometimes called erectile dysfunction or ''ED'', is the inability to have and maintain an erection sufficiently firm for satisfactory sexual performance. A wide variety of generally effective treatments are available. Diabetes is a leading cause, as is normal aging.
-====Developmental disorders of the penis====
-[[Hypospadias]] is a [[developmental disorder]] where the [[meatus]] is positioned wrongly at birth. Hypospadias can also occur [[iatrogenic]]ally by the downward pressure of an indwelling urethral catheter.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9554017] It is usually corrected by surgery.
-A [[micropenis]] is a very small penis caused by developmental problems.
-====Psychological disorders related to the penis====
-*[[koro]] - [[delusion]] of shrinkage of the penis and retraction into the body
-*[[penis envy]] - the contested [[Freud]]ian belief of a woman [[envy]]ing men for having a penis
-===Altering the male genitalia===
-<div class="thumb tright">
-<div style="width:240px;">
-[[Image:Uncircumsized_penis.gif|112px]] [[image:Circumsized_penis.gif|112px]]<div class="thumbcaption">
-An uncircumcised and a circumcised penis.</div>
-</div>
-</div>
-''Main article: [[genital modification and mutilation]]''
-The most prevalent form of genital alteration in some countries is [[circumcision]]: for various cultural, religious, and more rarely medical reasons, part or all of the foreskin is removed.  In many cases, such as in some United States hospitals, the [[frenulum]] and part of the shaft skin is also removed.
-Less commonly, the penis is sometimes [[body piercing|pierced]] or decorated by other [[body art]], usually for the purpose of aesthetics, or increased sensitivity. Piercings of the penis include the [[Prince Albert piercing]], the [[Apadravya piercing]], the [[Ampallang piercing]], the [[dydoe piercing]], and the [[frenum piercing]]. [[Foreskin restoration]] or stretching is a further form of body modification.
-Other practices which alter the penis are also performed, although they are rare in Western societies without a diagnosed medical condition.  Apart from a [[penectomy]], perhaps the most radical of these is [[subincision]], in which the urethra is split along the underside of the penis. Subincision originated among [[Australian Aborigine]]s, although it is now done by some in the U.S. and Europe.
-===Fears and reassurance===
-Possibly due to shame inculcated in regard to genitalia, some people suffer from misunderstandings and resultant fear.
-[[Penis panic]] is a kind of hysteria that appears to be culturally conditioned and largely limited to China, Japan, and South-east Asia.
-As mentioned earlier, the [[raphe]] is the visible ridge between the lateral halves of the penis, found on the ventral or under side of the penis, running from the meatus (opening of the urethra) across the scrotum to the perineum (area between scrotum and anus). This "scar" is actually the "biological zipper" that closes the urethra during the normal course of fetal development. When the urethra does not close normally, the resulting condition is called [[hypospadias]]. Surgery is required to close the urethra. Treatment may involve multiple surgeries and attendant pain.
-Adolescent males trying to [[Masturbation|masturbate]] successfully for the first time, and ignorant of the utility of lubricants, may chafe themselves and become fearful due to having learned "myths" about penile cancer. Other such beliefs involve the idea that [[masturbation]] can cause insanity or blindness.
-In childhood, according to the study ''Paediatric penile trauma'', male circumcision can be a cause of trauma in two-thirds of cases (El-Bahnasawy 2002)
-[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/bju/2002/00000090/00000001/art02741]
-== Non-human penises ==
-[[Image:Elephant penis.jpg|thumb|250px|An elephant's penis is proportionally large.]]
-Most [[marsupialia|marsupials]], except for the two largest species of [[kangaroo]]s, have a bifurcated penis. That is, it separates into two separate columns, and so the penis terminates in two ends.  The [[dolphin]] has [[prehensile]] control over his penis, so he sometimes uses it as an [[sensory]] [[appendage]] with which to probe the ocean floor.  The [[barnacle]] has the longest penis for its own length: up to twenty times the length of the animal.
-The [[Icelandic Phallological Museum]] in [[Reykjavík]] is devoted entirely to collecting penis specimens from all the land and sea mammals living in Iceland.  The museum has received a legally-certified gift token for a future specimen belonging to ''Homo sapiens''.
-==See also==
-{{commons|Penis}}
-*[[foreskin]]
-*[[impotence]]
-*[[lingam]]
-*[[penis envy]]
-*[[phallic symbol]]
-*[[priapism]]
-*[[list of severed penises]]
-*[[male circumcision]]
-*[[sexual intercourse]]
-*[[masturbation]]
-*[[sexual slang]]
-*[[sheath|penis sheath]]
-*[[penis game]]
-==External links==
-*[http://www.neo-tech.com/penis/ Penis Size Chart] (actual-size chart suitable for printing out and comparing)
-*[http://www.afraidtoask.com/members/index.html AfraidToAsk.com's Male Genitalia Guide]
-*[http://erectionphotos.com/ Erection Photos]
-*[http://www.my-penis.org/ All About the Penis]
-*[http://www.the-penis-website.com/ The Penis Website]
-*[http://www.penisowner.com/pom/pom.html Shagnasty's Penis Owners Manual]
-*[http://www.the-penis.com A Website About the Penis and Male Sexuality]
-*[http://www.edu.uni-klu.ac.at/~amiklaut/dr_nick/answer19.htm Summary Penis Size data]
-*[http://www.the-penis.com/mythsandfacts.html Details Penis Size Data]
-*[http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/resources/bib-penis.html Kinsey Institute on the penis]
-*[http://www.askmen.com/sports/health/health4.html Ask Men about penis]
-*[http://www.circumstitions.com/Glossary.html A Glossary of the Penis] Note: This is an anti-circumcision website.
-*[http://www.cirp.org/pages/anat/ Anatomy of the Penis - Mechanics of Intercourse] Note: This is an anti-circumcision website.
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