The Penis and Scrotum.

Male external genitalia

  • (A) Circumcised (B) Uncircumcised (C) Erect

The penis and scrotum are the external sexual organs of men. There are many questions about the penis on alt.sex, and this FAQ will attempt to begin to answer some of them.

Vocabulary of the penis and scrotum

  •  
    glans
    The glans is clearly visible in illustration (A) as the head of the penis. The glans in uncircumcised men is usually covered by the prepuce. The glans is highly sensitive, as is the corona, the ridge of flesh that connects the glans to the shaft of the penis.
    corona
    The 'crown,' a ridge of flesh demarcating where the head of the penis and the shaft join.
    frenulum, frenum
    A thin strip of flesh on the underside of the penis that connects the shaft to the head.
    foreskin, prepuce
    A roll of skin which covers the head of the penis in uncircumsized men.
    urethra, meatus
    The opening at the tip of the penis to allow the passage of both urine and semen.
    smemga
    A substance with the texture of cheese secreted by glands on each side of the frenulum in uncircumsized men.
    scrotum
    The scrotum is a sac that hangs behind and below the penis, and containts the testes, the male sexual glands. The scrotum's primary function is to maintain the testes at approximately 34 C, the temperature at which the testes most effectively produce sperm.

Male Internal Sexual Anatomy

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    Testes, Testicles.
    The male sexual glands, the two testes within the scrotum produce sperm and testosterone. Within each testis is a kilometer of ducts called the seminiferous tubules, the organs which generate sperm. Each testicle produces nearly 150 million sperm every 24 hours.
    Epididymis
    The epididymis is a 'holding pen' where sperm produced by the seminiferous tubules mature. The sperm wait here until ejaculation or nocturnal emission.
    Vas deferens
    The ducts leading from the epididymis to the seminal vesicles. These are the ducts that are cut during the procedure known as vasectomy.
    Seminal vesicles
    The seminal vesicles produce semen, a fluid that activates and protects the sperm after it has left the penis during ejaculation
    The Prostate gland
    Also produces a fluid that makes up the semen. The prostate gland also squeezes shut the urethral duct to the bladder, thus preventing urine from mixing with the semen and disturbing the pH balance required by sperm.
    Corpa cavernosa
    The corpora cavernosa are the two spongy bodies of erectile tissue on either side of the penis which become engorged with blood from arteries in the penis, thus causing erection.
    Ejaculatory Ducts
    The path through the seminal glands which semen travels during ejaculation.
    Cowper's Glands
    The Cowper's glands secrete a small amount of pre-ejaculate fluid prior to orgasm. This fluid neutralizes the acidity within the urethra itself.

Frequently answered questions

What's the average size of the penis? What are the extremes?

According to the book Mandens Krop (which is translated from English, but does not give the original title) the average is 15cm and 90% are between 13 and 18cm.
The records for a fully functional penis are 1.5cm and 30cm.

Is penis size important?

This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions on alt.sex, and that's a shame, because it's really a pointless question. Penis size is important if and only if you think it is. If you have sex with men and you desire a large penis, then penis size is important to you, and only to you. If you feel your penis should be larger, then penis size is important to you, and only to you.
Many women report that too many men are hung up on the size of their penises. The vagina is only eight to thirteen centimeters long, and even a small penis can touch every square centimeter within the vagina.

Can penis size be increased?

Yes. There are two surgical procedures to increase penis size - the Bihari Procedure, and Fat Injection.
The Bihari Procedure consists of cutting the ligament that secures the base of the penis to the body. This gives between one-half and two inches of increased length to the penis; however, because the penis is no longer anchored to the body an erection no longer points 'up.'
Fat Injection is the process of removing fat from the backs of the thighs and injecting it into the body of the penis to make the penis thicker. Because the body rejects a significant portion of the injection this procedure may need to be repeated several times and each operation carries with it a severe risk of infection.

How do I measure my penis?

According to Harold Reed, M.D., director of the Reed Centre for Ambulatory Urological Surgery in Bay Harbor, Florida, this is the correct way to measure the length of your penis:

First, while standing, get an erection. Okay, now gently angle your, er, equipment down until it is parallel to the floor. Set your ruler against your pubic bone just above the base of the penis, and measure to the tip. Thats how the doctors do it.

My penis bends down (or left, or right). Is there something wrong with it?

One-quarter of all penises bend in some direction and some bend downward even when erect. Unless the bend is severe or causes you pain, there is nothing wrong or abnormal about your penis. It should not interfere with sexual intercourse. Some people report that a downward-bending penis is easier to fellate.
In rare cases a condition called Peyrone's Syndrome can arise from childhood diseases. This condition is caused by scarring on one of the two corpora cavernosa within the penis, stunting its effectiveness during erection and causing the penis to bend almost 90 degrees in that direction. If you feel this may be the case, consult a urologist.

What is circumcision and why is it done?

Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis. When performed in a hospital, it is usually done shortly after birth by a doctor or midwife. Circumcisions are also given to Jewish boys by a mohel in a ceremony eight days after birth. Some Islamic boys are circumcised when they are older, around age 12. The majority of American boys are circumcised.
Common reasons for circumcision include: better hygiene, "normal" or "better" appearance, and "his penis should look like his father's." Common reasons against circumcision include: it is no longer necessary for hygienic reasons; it is a painful, barbaric practice; possibility of infection or surgical error; "normal" or "better" appearance; "his penis should look like his father's."; and "greater sensitivity of uncircumcised penis."

What are blue balls?

Blue Balls is a real condition! The "correct" term for blue balls is epididymitis, which is an inflammation of the epididymis.
In simple terms blue balls occurs when the epididymis get blocked up with sperm that have left the testis but not the penis. The vas deferns are the conduit for the sperm from the testis to the urethra. When they get blocked you get pain. Why blue balls and not "swollen balls," well maybe the connotation is that you balls have the "blues", or maybe its because with all that swelling some of the blood flow is restricted enough to cause some blueing of the area because of pooling blood.

Why is the prostate mentioned so often during discussions of anal sex?

The prostate is about the size of a walnut in a normal man, and is immediately behind the rectal wall about three centimeters inside the anus. It can be felt by placing one finger within the anus and feeling along the anterior wall for a round bulb. For some men, touching or rubbing this spot is extremely pleasurable; a rare few can even orgasm through this technique. Others report that the touch is painful or makes them feel as if they need to urinate.
 

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