Illustrated Penile Anatomy



1.  The difference brought about by regular retraction
The illustration to the right shows an uncircumcised penis with a tight foreskin; it has not been regularly retracted. Typically, this is the appearance of an uncircumcised boy pre-puberty. The inner foreskin may still be adhered to the glans; in some cases natural separation may still not have taken place at age 9 or even 10 years.

1. Outer surface of the Outer Foreskin.
2. Foreskin opening.
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Contrast with this an uncircumcised penis which has a loose foreskin in consequence of regular retraction.

1. Outer surface of the Outer Foreskin.
2. Meatus.
3. Glans.
4. Frenulum.
5. Outer surface of the Inner Foreskin.
6. Ridged Frenar Band and Mucocutaneous Junction.
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2. The adult penis prior to circumcision

Shown to the right are three views labelling the various parts of the foreskin and shaft skin. Note especially in the right-most drawing that the inner foreskin (in green) and the outer foreskin (in turquoise) are separate structures, mobile with respect to each other. They are not the opposite sides of the same single layer of tissue.
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The Frenulum may be retained or removed during circumcision. In the illustration to the left, the foreskin has been pulled back and the Frenulum is highlighted in yellow. Likewise, the amount of inner and outer foreskin that is retained or removed is up to you and your physician.
Overhanging foreskin (illustrated to the right) is sometimes referred to as a "Redundant Prepuce" and if cumbersome is a valid medical reason for circumcision.

Note again the totally separate layers of the inner and outer foreskin. Comprehension of this is vital to a proper understanding of the circumcision process; it is one of the least well understood aspects of penile anatomy.
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3. The circumcised adult penis

Here, to the right, we see the flaccid penis of a very loosely circumcised adult. Note the flaring of the corona. But for this flaring, the image might at a glance be mistaken for an uncircumcised man with his foreskin retracted.
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Compare this with a more tightly circumcised adult, shown here with an erection. This would not be considered a "high & tight" style because much of the inner skin was removed during the circumcision, which was done in infancy.

To get an impression of how much inner foreskin was removed, imagine what’s left of it (the part of the shaft between the scar line and the corona) folded forwards over the glans. It does not reach as far as the original foreskin would have done.




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