Glans penis

This article is about the glans penis. For other uses, see glans.
"Bellend" redirects here. For the English village, see Bell End.

Glans penis
Human penile glans (dorsal view)
Glans (ventral view)
Details
PrecursorGenital tubercle
Part ofPenis
SystemUrogenital system
ArteryDorsal artery of the penis
VeinDorsal veins of the penis
NerveDorsal nerve of the penis
Identifiers
Latinglans penis
TA98A09.4.01.007
TA23668
FMA18247
Anatomical terminology

In male human anatomy, the glans penis or penile glans,[1] commonly referred to as the glans, (/ɡlænz/; from Latin glans meaning "acorn")[2] is the bulbous structure at the distal end of the human penis that is the human male's most sensitive erogenous zone and primary anatomical source of sexual pleasure.[3][4] The glans penis is present in the male reproductive organs of humans and most other mammals where it may appear smooth, spiny, elongated or divided.[5] It is externally lined with mucosal tissue, which creates a smooth texture and glossy appearance. In humans, the glans is located over the distal ends of the corpora cavernosa and is a continuation of the corpus spongiosum of the penis. At the summit appears the urinary meatus and at the base forms the corona glandis. An elastic band of tissue, known as the frenulum, runs on its ventral surface. In men who are not circumcised, it is completely or partially covered by a fold of skin called the foreskin. In adults, the foreskin can generally be retracted over and past the glans manually or sometimes automatically during an erection.[6]

The glans penis develops as the terminal end of the genital tubercle during the embryonic development of the male fetus. The tubercle is present in the embryos of both sexes as an outgrowth in the caudal region that later develops into a primordial phallus. Exposure to male hormones (androgens) initiates the tubercle's development into a penis making the glans penis anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans in females.[7][8]

The glans is more commonly known as the "head" or the "tip" of the penis, and colloquially referred to in British English and Irish English as the "bellend".

Internal anatomy of human glans penis:
  1. Fascia penis
  2. Corpus cavernosum
  3. Coronal sulcus
  4. Corona of glans
  5. Foreskin
  6. Glans penis
  7. Meatus of the urethra
  8. Navicular fossa of male urethra
  9. Tunica albuginea of penis
  10. Corpus spongiosum
  11. Urethra
  1. ^ Greenburg, Jerrold S.; Bruess, Clint E. (2016). Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 267. ISBN 978-1-28408-154-1.
  2. ^ Hodgson, Charles (2015). Carnal Knowledge: A Navel Gazer's Dictionary of Anatomy, Etymology, and Trivia. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-46689-043-5.
  3. ^ Olausson, Håkan; Wessberg, Johan; Morrison, India (2016). Affective Touch and the Neurophysiology of CT Afferents. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-4939-6418-5. ...the most pleasurable of all body parts when stimulated sexually: the glans (or tip) of the penis.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference yangcc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Renfree1987 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Keenan-Lindsay, Lisa; Sams, Cheryl; O'Connor, Constance; Perry, Shannon; Hockenberry, Marilyn; Leonard Lowdermilk, Deitra; Wilson, David (December 17, 2021). Maternal Child Nursing Care in Canada. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 501. ISBN 978-0-323-75920-5.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference George, Wilson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).