Anatomy of the Penis, Mechanics of

Intercourse
This page presents information that most parents are not aware of at the time
they make the circumcision decision. Doctors usually do not provide this information.

If you are under 18, we recommend that you share and discuss this information with your
parents.

For a further look at this anatomy, including photographs, visit Circumstitions (Hugh
Young). Hugh's site also includes an excellent animation to illustrate retraction.

Dr John R. Taylor, co-author of two medical anatomical papers about the foreskin,
explains the latest research at the Ridged Band website.

This illustration represents

an average normal adult
human penis. The head of
the penis (glans) has a
covering, called the
foreskin (prepuce). This
covering folds in on itself,
forming a double layer.
The foreskin is not a `flap'
of skin on the end of the
penis, and it is not
`useless' or `redundant'
skin.

There is some natural

Fig. 1. Intact adult penis variation in the length of
the foreskin, which often
covers a bit more or less of
the glans than illustrated.
 In an average circumcised
adult man, the area of skin
that is missing because of
penile reduction surgery
would, when erect and
unfolded, measure
approximately three by
five inches, or a little
smaller than a postcard.
That is about half the total
skin of the penis.
Structures of the penis

• The outer foreskin

layer is a continuation
of the skin of the shaft
of the penis.
• The inner foreskin
layer is not just "skin,"
but mucocutaneous
tissue of a unique type
found nowhere else on
the body.
• The ridged band is the
interface (join) between
the outer and inner Fig. 2. Intact penis (hidden structures
foreskin layers. When shown).
the penis is not erect, it
tightens to narrow the
foreskin opening.
During erection, the
ridged band forms
ridges that go all the
way around, about
halfway down the shaft.
• The reddish or purplish
glans or glans penis
(head of the penis) is
smooth, shiny, moist
and extremely sensitive.

• The frenulum, or
frenum, is a connecting
membrane on the
underside of the penis,
similar to that beneath
the tongue.

The foreskin has twelve known functions.

They are:

1. to cover and bond with the synechia so as to permit the development of the
mucosal surface of the glans and inner foreskin.
2. to protect the infant's glans from feces and ammonia in diapers.
3. to protect the glans penis from friction and abrasion throughout life.
4. to keep the glans moisturized and soft with emollient oils.
5. to lubricate the glans.
6. to coat the glans with a waxy protective substance.
7. to provide sufficient skin to cover an erection by unfolding.
8. to provide an aid to masturbation and foreplay.
9. to serve as an aid to penetration.
10. to reduce friction and chafing during intercourse.
11. to serve as erogenous tissue because of its rich supply of erogenous receptors.
12. to contact and stimulate the G-spot of the female partner.

The above list was compiled from various sources by George Hill.

Click here for more information about the skin system of the
penis.
 Fig. 3: Erection
process: Intact
penis
When fully retracted, the foreskin is
designed to cover essentially the
entire penile shaft, yet is loose
enough to "glide". The ridged bands
are situated about halfway down the
shaft, when the foreskin is retracted
fully.

Note: In some cases, a man may

have difficulty retracting the
foreskin. This is not an indication
for circumcision, because there are
good alternative treatments
available that preserve the structure
and function of the foreskin.
Scientific references for
information on this topic can be
found in CIRP's Circumcision
Reference Library.

See also the excellent animation at

Circumstitions.com (offsite link).

Penile stimulation
The most important components of the physical erogenous stimulation of the penis during
foreplay and intercourse are the sensations from the foreskin, frenulum/frenar band, and
glans. These structures each have their own feeling, and each contributes in its own way
to the man's total experience of lovemaking. It must be emphasized that emotional
excitement is an extremely important component of sexual enjoyment, and intensifies the
man's perception of any physical sensations from his penis.
 • The foreskin has an inner and outer layer. The outer foreskin layer contains nerve
endings which respond to gentle touching during the early stages of sexual
arousal. This helps to trigger an erection. The nerves of the inner and outer
foreskin contribute to the experience of penile stimulation, up to and including
orgasm. These receptors are stimulated by stretching, or when the foreskin rolls
over the surface of the glans during intercourse or masturbation. (see `the gliding
mechanism,' below).
• The foreskin contains sensory receptors called Meissner corpuscles. We believe
that these nerves, similar to nerve endings in the fingertips, are there to provide
pleasure, as well as fine sensory perception. This seems to help a man to enjoy
sex longer without ejaculating prematurely, because he can more easily tell when
he is approaching the threshold of orgasm.
• Stimulation of the frenulum and ridged band results in intense pleasurable
feelings during arousal. The ridged band consists of a number of "ridges",
described by Dr. John Taylor in his recent article. Sensations from these structures
during intercourse or masturbation are thought to be the primary trigger of orgasm
in the intact male. Dr. George Denniston writes:

The ridged bands, which are like horseshoes only in that they curve forward
underneath toward the point where the frenulum attaches, can be found in several
pictures in John's paper. There are some 20 concentric ridged bands which rub
over the corona. Each ridge has Meissner's corpuscles, which respond to pressure,
and they produce the sexual pleasure which no individual has a right to take away
from another individual.

• We believe that stimulation of the glans is most significant in the later stages of
sexual intercourse, when penetration is deepest and emotions are running at their
highest. Sensations from the glans contribute to the quality of the sensual
experience. They are also apparently capable of triggering orgasm on their own,
as would be the case in a circumcised man.

Fig. 4. Circumcised adult penis Fig. 5. The circumcised penis: Erect

state
Following circumcision, the foreskin of the penis has been cut away. The surface of the
glans has developed a thick, dry layer of keratin (toughened skin), which makes it less
sensitive to unwanted stimulation, but also less sensitive to the more subtle qualities of
lovemaking.

All circumcised men have an annular scar on the shaft of the penis. The location of the
scar varies, from near the head to far down the shaft. For some men, so much skin has
been removed that erection becomes difficult and even painful. This was one of the most
common complaints reported by circumcised men in a recent poll.[11]

The gliding Fig. 6. The gliding mechanism

mecha
nism
During
intercourse the
loose skin of the
intact penis slides
up and down the
shaft of the penis,
stimulating the
glans and the
sensitive
erogenous
receptors of the
foreskin itself. On
the outstroke the
glans is partially
or completely
engulfed by the
foreskin. This is
known as the
`gliding
mechanism.'

The gliding
mechanism is
Nature's intended
mechanism of
intercourse. As
such, it
contributes
greatly to sexual
pleasure. Also,
since more of the
loose skin of the
penis remains
inside the vagina,
the woman's
natural lubrication
is not drawn out
to evaporate to a
great extent,
which makes sex
easier without
using artificial
lubricants.

The prepuce is a
highly innervated
and vascularized
genital structure.
It is entirely lined
with the peripenic
muscle sheet.
Specialized
ecoptic sebaceous
glans on the inner
preputial surface
produce natural
emollients and
lubricants
necessary for
normal sexual
function. The
primary orgasmic
triggers are found
in the preputial
orifice and
frenulum. When
unfolded, the
prepuce is large
enough to cover
the length and
circumference of
the erect penis
and acts as a
natural sheath
through which the
shaft glides
during coitus.
Only the presence
and functions of
the prepuce allow
for
physiologically
normal coitus to
occur as designed
by nature.
(Fleiss, Paul M;
Frederick
Hodges.
"Nontherapeutic
Circumcision
Should not be
Performed,"
American
Medical News,
vol. 38, no. 26
(July 17, 1995):
p. 16.)

Effects of penile reduction surgery (circumcision) on sexual intercourse

Although still pleasurable for the man, intercourse without the participation of the
prepuce lacks the gliding mechanism. The only source of stimulation is the glans rubbing
against the wall of the vagina. The sensations from the specialised receptors of the frenar
band, frenulum and inner foreskin layer are missing.
"With intravaginal containment of the normal penis, the male's mobile sheath is placed
within the woman's vaginal sheath. It is impossible to imagine a better mechanical
arrangement for non-abrasive stimulation of the male and female genitalia than this slick
'sheath within a sheath.' Circumcision destroys this one sheath within a sheath . . . I
would hazard a guess, that dyspareunia [painful intercourse] is more common in the
women whose husband is circumcised . . . one would be foolish to discount the
circumcised male's immobile penile skin sheath as an ancillary item contributing to
vaginal, abrasive discomfort . . . The male with a penis already moderately obtunded by
circumcision may be less apt to use a condom, which he feels may further decrease his
genital sensitivity . . . because most American males lack a facile prepuce, the period of
foreplay and dalliance may be abbreviated in the rush to the intra-vaginal method of
penile stimulation. Both these factors conceivably could be of significance in increasing
the rate of venereal disease, including AIDS . . . "
(Say No to Circumcision! 40 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Respect His
Birthright and Leave Your Son Whole (2nd edition), by Thomas A. Ritter, MD, Hourglass
Book Publishing 1996)

If the surgery was performed on an infant, by adulthood a relatively thick keratin layer
will have formed on the normally skinless mucosal surface of the glans, which further
reduces the stimulation. If the circumcision was performed as an adult, the keratin layer
will form, and the sensitivity of the glans will gradually be reduced over time.

References and further reading

1. Male Sexual Anatomy - The Foreskin.
2. Foreskin (John A. Erickson)
3. "Circumcision, male: effects upon human sexuality", in: Human Sexuality. An Encyclopedia.
Edited by Vern L. Bullough and Bonnie Bullough, Garland Publishing Inc., 1994, pp. 119-
122.
4. Taylor JR, Lockwood AP, Taylor AJ; The prepuce: specialized mucosa of the penis and its
loss to circumcision. British Journal of Urology (1996), 77, 291-295
5. Warren JP, Bigelow J. The case against circumcision. British Journal of Sexual Medicine,
Sept/Oct 1994.
6. American Academy of Pediatrics. Care of the Uncircumcised Penis. Evanston, Ill.: AAP,
1984.
7. Douglas Gairdner, D.M., M.R.C.P., "The Fate of the Foreskin: A Study of Circumcision",
British Medical Journal, Vol. 2, pp 1433-1437, Dec. 24, 1949. This article led to the virtual
cessation of routine neonatal circumcision in Great Britain after WW II. (Includes an
illustrated section describing the development of the prepuce in infancy.)
8. Ritter, Thomas J., MD, "Say NO to Circumcision!", Aptos, CA, Hourglass Book Publishing,
1992.
9. Bigelow, James, PhD, "The Joy of Uncircumcising", 2nd edition, Aptos, CA, Hourglass Book
Publishing, 1995, pp. 16-18.
10. Hammond, T. Awakenings: Prelim. Poll of Circ. Men. NOHARMM 1992:76-77 [POB
460795, San Franc., 94146]
 11. Notes by Francisco Garcia. Including:
o What exactly is circumcision and what is it not?
o The skin system of the penis
o The "triple whammy" (loss of penile sensitivity)
o Adult circumcision vs. infant circumcision
12. "Where is my foreskin? The case against circumcision" by Paul M. Fleiss. MD. Mothering
magazine, Winter 1997
13. What were the original motivations behind routine infant penile reduction surgery in the
West? How is penile reduction surgery perpetuated in the West today?
14. NOCIRC newsletter, Fall 1992, Vol 6 no 2
15. glossary of terms
16. The Ridged Band: Specialized Sexual Tissue.

(Pictures from "The Joy of Uncircumcising" by Jim Bigelow)

Revised 2005-01-05

(Return to Circumcision Information Resource Pages front page)

PUBERTY PREGNANCY AND SEX

Growing up and making babies - puberty
Puberty is the name given to the physical and emotional changes which take place in
most boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 14. These changes occur so that the body
is able to make a baby. This is called reproduction, and can only occur when a boy and
girl are sexually mature.

One of the main physical changes of puberty is the growth and development of the sex
organs – the parts of the body that are used to have sex and make babies. Sex organs that
can be seen on the outside of the body are called ‘genitals’ while those that are inside the
body are usually called ‘reproductive organs’.

Some more about a girl’s sex organs

All genitals naturally vary in appearance so not all will look like the genitals represented
here.

Between a girl’s legs there are three small holes. At the front is the urethral opening
which a girl urinates through, and at the back is the anus which she defecates from. In
between these two holes is a third hole, her vaginal opening. From the vaginal opening
there is a small passageway or tube, called the vagina, which leads to the reproductive
organs inside the body.

When a girl has her period the blood comes out through her vagina. Inside the vagina
there is a small piece of thin skin called the hymen. The hymen partly covers the vaginal
opening, but there is still enough of a gap for blood to get through. Sometimes the hymen
breaks and bleeds slightly when a girl has sex for the first time.

Some other important parts of a girl’s sex organs are:

• The clitoris, which is at the front of a girl’s outside sex organs and is about the
size of a pea
• The outer lips (labia) of a girl’s sex organs

The labia, the clitoris and the vaginal opening are together known as the vulva.

Some more about a boy’s sex organs

All genitals naturally vary in appearance so not all will look like the genitals represented
here.

The boy’s sex organs outside his body are his penis and testicles (testes).

A boy’s penis hangs down between his legs at the front of his body. The main parts of a
penis are:

• The shaft - the main, long part of the penis

• The glans - the tip or head of the penis
• The foreskin - skin which covers the glans

The foreskin can usually be pulled back quite easily. If it is tight it can be stretched by
gently pulling it over the glans. All boys are born with a foreskin, but some have it
removed when they are a baby, or later in life. The removal of the foreskin is called
circumcision.

Underneath the penis is the scrotum – a loose, wrinkly pouch of skin that hangs down
behind a boy’s penis. It contains his testicles. As a boy goes through puberty his testicles
move lower down his scrotum. One of the testicles usually hangs lower than the other.

Eggs and Sperm

Inside a girl’s body are two small organs called the ovaries. Contained in these ovaries
are hundreds of tiny sex cells called eggs, each no bigger than the head of a pin. At some
point during puberty, the ovaries will begin to release these eggs. Usually one egg is
released every month. This process is called ovulation.

A boy’s sex cells are called sperm and they are even smaller than a girl’s eggs. At
puberty a boy's testicles will start making sperm. Sperm leaves a boy's body through his
penis when it is hard and erect. This is known as ejaculation and it happens when a boy
reaches the height of sexual excitement and has an orgasm. When a boy ejaculates,
millions of tiny sperm are sent from his testes, up through his penis and out through the
end. The sperm are contained in a sticky white fluid called semen.

When a boy’s sperm meets with a girl’s egg they usually join together, and a baby will
begin to grow.

How do egg and sperm meet? – Sexual intercourse

The most common way that sperm get inside a girl’s body is through sexual intercourse.
Sexual intercourse is when a boy puts his hard penis inside a girl's vagina. It is also often
called having sex or making love.

Having sex (which usually involves moving the penis in and out of the vagina) is usually
very pleasurable for both a boy and a girl, and it will often result in an orgasm for one or
both partners. If a boy ejaculates while his penis is inside the girl’s vagina (or if semen
gets inside the vagina any other way) then the millions of tiny sperm in the semen will
swim up the vagina, through the cervix (the entrance to the uterus) and into the uterus
(also known as the womb). From there they will swim into the fallopian tubes. In one of
the fallopian tubes the sperm may find an egg that has recently been released by the
ovary. The sperm will surround this egg and try to get inside it. Eventually just one sperm
cell will succeed, and the egg and sperm will join. This joining is also known as
fertilisation or conception.
This joined sperm and egg then travel back down to the uterus, where they will settle in
the thick, blood-rich lining and start to grow into a baby. It is at this point that we say a
girl is pregnant.

What happens if the sperm and the egg don’t meet? - Periods

On average, the whole menstrual cycle (from the first day of the period to the day before
the next) will last 28 days.

Girls generally only release an egg once a month, and it will normally take a few days to
travel down the fallopian tube. If the sperm and the egg don't meet during this time, then
she won’t become pregnant.

Without a new baby to nourish, the thick lining of the uterus is no longer needed. So,
approximately 14 days after a girl’s egg is released, the bloody lining of the uterus will
begin to come away, and will flow down through the cervix and out of the vagina. This
process is called menstruation, and this is the blood that a girl will notice when she has
her period. During puberty, a girl’s first period is a sign that she has released her very
first egg, and is now able to have children.

Periods will usually last somewhere between 3 and 10 days. Around 14 days after the
start of her last period, a girl will ovulate (release an egg) again, and will once again have
the chance to become pregnant. This process of period, then ovulation, then period, is
known as the menstrual cycle. On average, the whole menstrual cycle (from the first day
of the period to the day before the next) will last 28 days, although variations between 21
and 35 days are quite normal.

More about pregnancy

Though an egg is usually released about the same time each month, this doesn’t mean
that a girl can predict exactly when she will (or won’t) become pregnant. This is because
girls usually have no way of knowing exactly when they are ovulating. Not only can the
day of ovulation vary from girl to girl, it can vary from month to month in an individual
girl.

In addition, sperm can survive for several days within the body, so they can ‘hang
around’ waiting for an egg to be released if there isn’t one there already.

All this means that if a girl wants to avoid pregnancy but still have sex, she and her
partner will need to use contraception. Sexually transmitted diseases, which can be
passed on from one person to another during sexual intercourse, are also something that
both boys and girls need to consider if they decide to have sex. Condoms are widely used
because they help to prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Using contraception every time you have sex is very important if you want to avoid
pregnancy. It is also important to remember that a girl can become pregnant even if:
 • It is the first time she has sexual intercourse
• She has sex before she has her first period (it could be that she is ovulating for the
first time)
• She has sex during her period (sperm can stay alive for several days)
• A boy withdraws his penis before he ejaculates (pre-come, the fluid that leaks out
the penis before a boy ejaculates, can sometimes contain sperm)
• She has sex standing up (sperm can swim in any direction – up or down!)

Because periods stop during pregnancy, the first sign that a girl may be pregnant is
usually a missing period. If a girl doesn’t start her period at the usual time, it is probably
a good idea for her to talk to her doctor or another adult as soon as she can. Periods can
come late for other reasons (for example when a girl is stressed, on a very strict diet or
has been unwell), but if she has had sex in the past month, then it may be a good idea to
take a pregnancy test to be sure.

Sexual feelings during puberty

It isn’t just the body that changes during puberty - our feelings can change too, and like
the changes to the sexual organs, these feelings prepare us to have sex and make babies.

What are the main physical signs of sexual feelings?

When boys get sexually excited, the main sign is that they get an erection. The main sign
for girls is that their vagina begins to get moist, and their clitoris gets bigger. For both
boys and girls when they are sexually excited or "turned on", extra blood comes to the
surface of the skin, particularly around the penis and vagina. This can cause areas of the
body to feel more sensitive, and some people find they get a warm sensation.

Sexual feelings and masturbation

A person can have sexual feelings any time in their life, but these change around puberty.
You might find some sexual feelings just seem to happen to you. But sexual feelings
mostly come about from things you choose to do, either on your own or with someone
else.

A main way that people express their sexual feelings is by touching their own genitals.
Girls can get pleasure from touching their clitoris, and boys from touching their penis,
particularly the tip. This is called masturbation. Some people masturbate very often,
maybe every day. Some people do it less often, and some don't masturbate at all.

Masturbation is a normal and natural activity and is not bad for you unless you
masturbate so much that you make your genital area sore.

When a person is masturbating they become more and more sexually excited. They may
then reach a peak of sexual excitement which is called having an orgasm or "coming".
This is when all the tension and excitement that has built up is suddenly released. Boys
ejaculate when they have an orgasm and their penis will then go limp. Everybody has
their own way of masturbating that feels good for them. For many masturbation is their
first sexual experience.

There are many myths about masturbation which make some people think it is wrong.
However, masturbation is a normal and natural activity and is not bad for you unless you
masturbate so much that you make your genital area sore. Masturbation does not damage
you health: it cannot cause cancer, give you a sexually transmitted infection, affect your
eyesight, or make you go mad. It does not cause hair to grow on your palms or any other
part of your body, and it doesn't stunt your growth. If it did, the vast majority of people in
the world would be very short and unhealthy!

Sexual feelings in relationships

When people have sexual feelings for each other they will usually want to do sexual
things together. There is no set time or order in which to do these things.

People often enjoy kissing, cuddling and holding hands. 'French kissing' is when both
people open their mouths when they are kissing and their tongues touch together.

Many people also like to stroke or rub each others bodies, particularly their genital areas.
Some people like to touch each other directly, and some prefer to do it through their
clothes.

There are a variety of other sexual activities that people will also do including sexual
intercourse.

It can seem natural to bring sexual feelings into a relationship. You might want to do
something because you feel curious about it. Or because you think it will make you feel
good. And you might want to do it because you feel very close to someone.

"It just felt like the right moment…it wasn't great, but it was special, because it was with
someone who I loved very much and trusted completely." - Clemantine

But it can also change how people feel about each other and about themselves. It's
important not to do any of these things because you feel under pressure. And it's
important to think about the consequences and how you will feel afterwards.

"I seriously wish I had waited because, even now, our relationship is starting to be
completely physical." - Jessica

To read more personal stories about sexual experiences, see our First Time page.

More about sexual relationships can be found in our Sex and Relationships section.