The foreskin is a natural, amazing body part that is often ignored and misunderstood in circumcising cultures like America. However the time has come for us to better understand what this incredible organ is about, and why nature put it on all of us. That’s right, everyone has foreskin! Obviously males have it, but females it takes the form of the clitoral hood. With these things in mind, let’s get started finding out about this fascinating part of the anatomy..
- What is Foreskin?
The foreskin is the part of the penis that covers the glans (head). But there is more to it than that. The foreskin is a folded double layering of skin, muscle, and mucosal membrane. It measures roughly 12-15 square inches of the penile skin system. It is densely packed with erogenous nerve endings that can detect fine touch and pressure sensations. It is lined with immunological cells that protect the penis from harmful bacteria and promote healing from infection. The foreskin keeps the glans penis moist and lubricated, making a man’s sexual experience with his partner comfortable.
The two layers of foreskin, both inner and outer layers, are joined at the tip of the foreskin called the preputial orifice, or the lips of the foreskin. The nerve endings in the glans are predominantly made up of pressure sensory nerves (like the gums.) The foreskin is known for its fine-touch sensory nerve endings similar to our lips.
The foreskin has a wide variety of nerve endings that can detect a wide range of sensation and movement. Perhaps the most researched are the Meissner’s corpuscles. The foreskin, especially the lips of the foreskin and another area called the Ridged Band are densely packed with these Meissner’s Corpuscles.
- Contains Thousands of Nerve Endings
When a man is sexually aroused, the head of his penis swells as it becomes engorged with blood. This causes the penis to press up against the foreskin and create gentle pressure to its lining, thus igniting the Meissner’s Corpuscles. The foreskin is highly elastic and when gently pulled and stretched, the nerve endings are further activated. Meissner’s Corpuscles can be found in other areas of the body including the nipples, lips, and female clitoral hood. Stimulation of any of these areas of the body would trigger the same type of sensations as the foreskin. There are no Meissner Corpuscles present on the glans. The glans is mainly composed of pressure sensitive nerves, whereas the foreskin is known for its fine-touch sensations. When the glans and foreskin are stimulated simultaneously, there is a great balance of pressure and fine touch sensation.
- Amazing Sliding Skin
The foreskin glides up and down the penile shaft. Like the bellows of an accordion, the ridges present on the lining of the foreskin bunch up and stretch. This gliding action of the foreskin causes the foreskin and glans to massage each other while keeping the penis moist.
- Provides Natural Lubrication
The foreskin produces natural emollients and lubricant to prevent it from drying out and chafing. The glans and inner foreskin are by nature a mucosal membrane. Mucosal membranes need a constant supply of lubrication to maintain optimal health and comfort. The foreskin covers the glans both providing lubrication preventing it from drying out. The lubrication also makes sex comfortable for a man and his partner.
5. Easy to Clean
The penis is by nature a low maintenance part of the body. The foreskin just needs to be retracted and rinsed with water during bathing. Soap may cause irritation so it is best to avoid getting soap under the foreskin. In children, a boy is born with his foreskin fused to the glans penis. Overtime, the foreskin separates from the glans. During this period while the foreskin is still fused to the glans, only clean the external surfaces (clean only what is seen!) Do not attempt to retract the foreskin as it can cause injury, tearing, and scarring. With maturity, once the foreskin has separated from the glans, it is then safe to retract it. He may then rinse the penis with water, and return the foreskin back over the glans.
Conclusions
This incredible body part needs to be given its due respect and some love. All too often circumcising cultures exhibit bias by obsessing about potential problems which are uncommon, while dismissing the natural benefits and important function foreskin is supposed to provide. Nature placed foreskin on our bodies. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
