Welcome to the Penis! This multipurpose organ comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors and they are all wonderful! This guide will cover the external anatomy and provide a vocabulary for talking about your body. We’ll cover internal anatomy later but feel free to check out my post about the prostate for a review of anatomy and some conditions associated with the prostate.
Starting from the top!
- Urethra: The urethra attaches to the bladder and this is the opening where urine / pee leaves the body. The penis is multipurpose so this is also where sperm leaves the body during orgasm and ejaculation.
- Glans: This is the helmet shaped top of the penis. It is the most sensitive part of the penis.
- Foreskin: Similar to the hood of the clitoris, the foreskin protects the sensitive tissue of the glans. When someone is circumcised, this hood is what is removed.
- Shaft / Erectile Tissue: The shaft of the penis becomes engorged and rigid during arousal resulting in an erection.
- Scrotum: This is the skin that covers the gonads, AKA the testicles. The testicles produce and store sperm which are very sensitive to temperature. This pouch of skin can contract higher up to the body using the cremaster muscle to stay warm or hang further away to stay cool.
- Perineum: This is the area between the scrotum and the anus. Many of the sphincter pelvic floor muscles attach here and it can be an area that feels crampy or achy for that reason.
- Anus: This is where feces / poo and farts leave the body. It is also a sensitive area of the body that some folks explore sexually.
Remember, this is just the basics! There can be many factors including surgery, age, or hormonal changes that change how your penis may function. Gender identity and dysphoria may also play a role in how comfortable you are using anatomical terms so feel free to get creative and use terms that you are more comfortable with. For the purpose of education, I will be using these terms primarily when talking about folks who were Assigned Male At Birth (AMAB).
I hope you enjoyed this introduction to the Penis basics! More will be coming soon about the internal anatomy including the reproductive organs, the pudendal nerves, and the effects of hormone therapy on the body!
All images are courtesy of Heather Edwards, PT.
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