Penis Anatomy In Details

A Glossary of Penis-Related Terms

When you are dealing with any subject, it pays to know about it in detail.

So if you are looking at methods for penis enhancement, you need to know about the various terms involved with the penis. This will give you a better idea of what methods work.

A diagram about the penis shows that there are two important chambers, which are collectively called as the corpora cavernosa. It is these chambers that become engorged with blood when the penis is aroused.

But when these chambers become engorged, they will exert some mechanical force on the tunica albuginea. This holds the blood inside the tissues and does not let it escape. This is the mechanism of the male erection.

The other chamber that you see is the corpus spongiosum. However, this is not as significant as the corpora cavernosa. It gets a lower supply of blood. The main intention of this engorgement is to provide a soft cushion to the delicate urethral tissue when it ejaculates forcefully.

The most important determining factor in the size of an erection is how well the corpora cavernosa can get filled with blood. Naturally, the penis can only become as big as the space permitted by these tissues.

Except surgery, all other methods for penis enlargement target at increasing the size of these tissue chambers. This will allow them to take in a higher volume of blood and hence the penis will get erect to a better extent.

Corona - Means ‘the crown’. It is the fleshy crest of the penis. This is where the glans (the tip of the penis) and the shaft communicate.

Corpora Cavernosa - These are the two spongy tissues that are present on both lateral sides of the penis. They become filled with blood when the penis becomes erect.

Corpus Spongiosum - This is the name of the single spongy and soft tissue that is present around the urethra. The tissue can get filled with blood and expand. However, this is not as significant as the corpora cavernosa.

Cowper’s Glands - These small glands are responsible for the production of a fluid that will later mix with the sperm to form the ejaculate. This fluid is produced just prior to attaining an organism. The function of this fluid is to provide the sperm protection from the acidity in the urethra.

Dorsal Side of the Penis - This is the region that forms the upper portion of the penis which is visible when you look down at it.

Ejaculatory Ducts - These are the ducts which carry the seminal fluid for ejaculation.

Epididymis - Epididymis is a storage area above the testes where the sperm that are produced are stored until they are expelled in some manner.

Foreskin or Prepuce - This is a fold of skin which covers the glans. This is the part that is removed during circumcision.

Frenulum or Frenum - Frenum is a small fleshy layer that is present on the ventral (lower) side of the penis. It connects the head of the penis to its shaft.

Glans - The glans is the bulbous head of the penis. The glans is exposed in circumcised men and covered by the foreskin in uncircumcised men. The glans is one of the most easily aroused parts of the penis. The other highly excitable parts include the corona.

Head - This is a colloquial term for the glans.

Meatus - The meatus is the narrow aperture present at the tip of the penis. It is the opening for semen as well as urine.

Perineum - The perineum is the region present between the scrotal sac and the anal opening.

Prostate Gland - This is a gland present just below the urinary bladder. Its role is to produce a fluid which is a component of the seminal discharge. The gland is also responsible for closing the duct that discharges urine during an ejaculation. This stops the urine from getting mixed with the semen. This is vital to maintain the right pH balance for the sperm.

Pubococcygeus Muscle (PC Muscle) - This is the muscle that forms the floor of the pelvis. The muscle helps in exercising control over ejaculation as well as urination.

Raphe - Raphe is the crinkle that goes from the meatus all the way to the perineal area, over the scrotal sac. This ridge is formed right during fetal stage. It is a component of gender identification.

Scrotum - The scrotum or scrotal sac is a sac-like area that holds the testes. It is present directly below the penis, at its base. The scrotum is temperature regulated because the sperm need the right temperature to be produced. The temperature maintained within the scrotum is about 98.6 F (37 C).

Semen - Semen is the liquid component of the seminal discharge. The amount of semen in the discharge is about 95-98%, while the sperm is about 2-5%. Semen is rich in zinc and amino compounds. They protect sperm from the acidity present in the vagina after copulation.

Seminal Vesicles - These are small organs that produce the semen. The semen forms the medium for the sperm in the seminal discharge.

Shaft - The shaft is the rod-shaped main external portion of the penis. Anatomically, it contains the corpora cavernosa, the corpus spongiosum, the cavernosal artery, the dorsal artery, the dorsal vein and the urethra.

Smegma - This is a thick textured substance which is given out by two tiny glands present in the frenum. It also contains some moisture and cells of the skin. Smegma has no role in the sexual function and avoiding the production of this is one of the reasons for circumcision.

Testes or Testicles -They are the main sexual organs of the male. Two of them are present in the scrotal sac. They produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone. They also contain the highly folded seminiferous tubules where the sperm is actually produced. About a 150 million sperm are produced each day in these glands in health men.

Urethra - This is the duct of the penis that is used by urine generated in the urinary bladder as well as the semen produced in the testicles. It opens at the meatus.

Vas Deferens - The vas deferens begins from the epididymis in the testes and leads up to the seminal vesicles. When a man wishes to undergo a vasectomy, it is these ducts that are cut.

Ventral Side of the Penis - This is the lower side of the penis, which is not visible when viewing from top.

Common Acronyms used in Penis Enlargement Discussions

PE - Penis Enlargement / Penis Exercises

BPEL - Bone Pressed Erect Length (This is the way of measuring the length of the penis, starting from the pubic bone to the tip.)

NBPEL - Non Bone Pressed Erect Length (This is another way of measuring the penis length, starting from the base of penis shaft to the tip.)

BPFSL - Bone Pressed Flaccid Stretch Length (This is the length of the penis when flaccid from the pubic bone to the tip.)

NBPFSL - None Bone Pressed Flaccid Stretch Length (This is the length of the penis when flaccid from the shaft to the tip.)

BPFL - Bone Pressed Flaccid Length (This is the length of the penis when flaccid from the pelvic bone.)

NBPFL - None Bone Pressed Flaccid Length (This is the length of the penis when flaccid from the shaft.)

EG - Erect Girth (This measurement is taken at the center of the penis when erect, which is usually its broadest area.)

FG - Flaccid Girth (This measurement is taken at the center of the penis when flaccid, which is usually its broadest area.)