Table of Contents
Penis
The penis is a male reproductive organ that is used in sexual intercourse. It is made up of spongy tissue and blood vessels. The penis becomes erect when blood flows into the tissue. This happens when the man is sexually excited.
Penis Structure
The penis is a male reproductive organ that consists of a shaft and a head, or glans. The shaft is composed of two cylindrical bodies of tissue, the corpora cavernosa, which run the length of the penis. The corpus spongiosum is a single, large column of tissue that surrounds the urethra. The head, or glans, of the penis is typically wider than the shaft and is covered in a loose layer of skin, called the foreskin.
The penis is anchored to the pubic bone by the suspensory ligament, which runs from the pubic bone to the base of the penis. The penis can be stimulated to become erect by contact with the body, including the inner thighs, abdomen, or buttocks. During sexual arousal, the blood vessels in the penis dilate and the spongy tissue of the penis becomes engorged with blood. The veins that drain the blood from the penis are compressed, trapping the blood in the penis and causing it to become erect.
The foreskin is a loose layer of skin that covers the head of the penis. The foreskin is typically removed during circumcision, a surgical procedure in which the foreskin is cut away from the penis. Circumcision is common in the United States, where it is performed on about 60% of newborn boys.
Penis Anatomy
The penis is the male reproductive organ. It is composed of spongy tissue that fills with blood when the man becomes aroused. This tissue surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen through the penis. The penis is attached to the pubic bone by a ligament.
Blood Supply to the Penis
The penis is supplied with blood by the arteries that run along its length. The arteries that supply the penis are branches of the internal iliac arteries, which branch off the aorta. The penile arteries branch off the femoral arteries, which are the main arteries in the thigh.
The blood flow to the penis is regulated by the Helmholtz muscle. This is a muscle that sits at the base of the penis and can close the veins that run along the side of the penis, preventing blood from flowing back out. When the man is sexually aroused, the Helmholtz muscle relaxes, allowing blood to flow into the penis.
Types of Penis
There are three types of penises: the flaccid penis, the erect penis, and the retracted penis. The flaccid penis is the penis when it is not erect. The erect penis is the penis when it is erect. The retracted penis is the penis when it is in the retracted position.
