The penis ends in the glans penis – the glans. The transition is formed between the body of the penis and the glans by the furrow (sulcus coronarius). The glans itself contains in its body a continuation of the corpus spongiosum glandis, the urethral corpus cavernosum. The latter is also responsible for the shape of the glans.
What is the glans penis?
The term glans penis is used to describe the glans of the penis of a mammal. The glans or glans penis is a thickening that occurs at the front end of the male sexual organ. The glans, when the penis is not circumcised or or has an erection, is partially or completely covered by the foreskin of the penis. If an erection occurs, the glans protrudes as the foreskin retracts. If the glans cannot partially or even completely displace the foreskin – even with mechanical assistance – it is referred to as foreskin constriction, which is probably the best-known problem that can occur in men.
Anatomy and structure
The glans or glans penis is divided into the glans rim (corona glandis) as well as the glans neck (collum glandis). In addition to the frenulum (foreskin frenulum) as well as the inner foreskin, the glans is one of the erogenous zones of the man. The lower edge of the glans is of particular importance, as most of the nerves pass through here. The glans skin (cutis glandis) is a squamous epithelium with very little keratinization and sebaceous glands. The glans has numerous nerve endings; under the epithelium there are also Meissner’s corpuscles, which are responsible for haptic perception. The epithelium is very thin (if the penis is not circumcised), so that there are only two or at most three cell layers. Even the smallest stimuli can therefore be perceived very strongly and intensively. If circumcision has been performed, the keratinization may be thicker and more pronounced, so that the mechanical stimuli are perceived as less intense. The conduction of excitation – which occurs via the dorsalis penis nerve – has the effect of the male orgasm as well as the ejaculatory reflex. The interior of the glans penis is formed by the anterior portion of the corpus spongiosum penis (urethral corpus cavernosum); this is also called the so-called glans corpus cavernosum glandis. This formation is also responsible for the enlargement of the glans when an erection occurs. The formation also plays a role in the direct size of the glans. The male urethra runs inside the glans. The urethra then opens at the tip of the glans; this is also where the external urethral orifice (ostium urethrae externum) is found. Between the shaft of the penis and the glans there is a transition called the coronal furrow. The coronary furrow represents – compared to the shaft of the penis – a thickening. In about 10 percent of all cases, men have small protruding points directly on the glans edge, which are described as horn tips. These are not a disease and do not need to be treated. Those horn formations are also called “penile spines”. The so-called horny tips are repeatedly confused with genital warts; those represent a disease that must be treated.
Function and tasks
The glans, the end of the penis, is provided with numerous nerve endings. For this reason, the glans is particularly sensitive to stimuli; ultimately, the nerves measure the degree of arousal, and the measurement is then transmitted to the ejaculation center. This is located in the lower spinal cord of the human body. When arousal reaches a certain level, which varies depending on the man, he experiences orgasm and ejaculation. The glans does not have any other function or task; it is considered an extension of the penis. In the glans is also the so-called exit for the urine or the ejaculate of the man. This is transported through the urethra.
Diseases
Among the best-known diseases is, for example, the acorn inflammation. Balanitis is usually accompanied by balanoposthitis, the so-called inflammation of the foreskin. The disease manifests itself by itching and is treated by means of various ointments. Whether this disease is contagious, so that the woman can also be affected by the inflammation, the doctor must determine which causes are responsible for the inflammation of the glans. Sometimes a glans tumor can also form, which is also described as penile carcinoma.The tumor can manifest itself directly on the glans, but can also occur directly on the penis. However, such tumor disease is rare; only in the rarest cases such tumors occur directly on the glans of the man. Whether the tumor is malignant or which course of the disease must be feared, can only be determined individually by the doctor, since there are different forms as well as outgrowths, so that no general assessment can be written about it. Phimosis is also one of the best known “diseases” that can occur in a man in the glans. Here one speaks of the so-called “foreskin constriction”. It can occur already in the baby or infant age, but can also manifest itself over time (due to several causes). Phimosis is usually treated surgically, although there are different types of circumcision (total circumcision or partial circumcision). Circumcisions that take place within the framework of religious processes and rituals have nothing to do with a contraction of the foreskin. Here the rite or hygiene is in the foreground.
Typical and common penile diseases
- Erectile dysfunction (erectile impotence).
- Potency problems
- Premature ejaculation
- Congenital curvature of the penis
