Smegma
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Smegma
Smegma (Ancient Greek σμῆγμα : ''smēgma'') is a combination of shed skin cells, skin oils, and moisture. It occurs in both male and female mammalian genitalia. In females, it collects around the clitoris and in the folds of the labia minora; in males, smegma collects under the foreskin. Females The accumulation of sebum combined with dead skin cells forms smegma. ''Smegma clitoridis'' is defined as the secretion of the apocrine glands of the clitoris, in combination with desquamating epithelial cells. Glands that are located around the clitoris, the labia minora, and the labia majora secrete sebum. If smegma is not removed frequently it can lead to clitoral adhesion which can make clitoral stimulation (such as masturbation) painful (clitorodynia). Males In males, smegma helps keep the glans moist and facilitates sexual intercourse by acting as a lubricant. Smegma, itself, is completely benign, but uncircumcised "men with phimosis have an increased risk of penile ...
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Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin, also known as the prepuce, is the double-layered fold of skin, mucosal and muscular tissue at the distal end of the human penis that covers the glans and the urinary meatus. The foreskin is attached to the glans by an elastic band of tissue, known as the frenulum. The outer skin of the foreskin meets with the inner preputial mucosa at the area of the mucocutaneous junction. The foreskin is mobile, fairly stretchable and sustains the glans in a moist environment. Except for humans, a similar structure, known as penile sheath, appears in the male sexual organs of all primates and the vast majority of mammals. In humans, foreskin length varies widely and coverage of the glans in a flaccid and erect state can also vary. The foreskin is fused to the glans at birth and is generally not retractable in infancy and early childhood. Inability to retract the foreskin in childhood should not be considered a problem unless there are other symptoms. Retr ...
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Horse Sheath Cleaning
Sheath cleaning is a hygienic process occasionally needed by male horses, both geldings and stallions, wherein a caretaker, groom or veterinarian checks the horse's sheath, the pocket of skin that protects the penis of the horse when it is not in use for urination (or, in the case of stallions, breeding)."Cut Through Smegma". ''Horse Journal'', August, 2007, p. 19–20. This area may need to be cleaned, starting at a young age after breeding and the birth season, but particularly in geldings. Not only can smegma, a waxy substance that includes dirt and dead skin cells, accumulate, but some geldings (and occasionally, stallions) may also form a "bean", a hardened ball of smegma inside the sheath or even the urethra that, in extreme cases, can interfere with urine flow. Although a gelding retains the same beneficial microorganisms in the sheath as a stallion, they seem to accumulate smegma and other debris at a higher rate, probably because geldings rarely fully extrude the penis, a ...
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Taylorella Equigenitalis
Introduction and overview ''Taylorella equigenitalis'' is a Gram-negative, non-motile, microaerophilic bacterium of the genus '' Taylorella'', and the causative agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM) in horses. Phylogeny of ''T. equigenitalis'' includes being part of the ''Alcaligenaceae'' family. ''Taylorella equigenitalis's'' distribution and habitat are primarily in the urethral fossa, distal urethra, prepuce, free-part of the penis of stallions and the clitoral fossa or sinus of mares. Canada and the USA are ''T. equigenitalis'' free, compared to other countries like those in Europe. Infected stallions are asymptomatic and act as the principal source of infection for mares during mating, and their carrier status may persist for many months or even years. A mare that becomes infected normally has recognizable signs unless asymptomatic, contributing to the spread of disease. A symptomatic mare can be identified by the mucus and pus being expelled from her vagina; CEM mares ...
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Preputial Gland
Preputial glands are exocrine glands that are located in the folds of skin front of the genitals of some mammals. They occur in several species, including mice, ferrets, rhinoceroses, and even-toed ungulates and produce pheromones. The glands play a role in the urine-marking behavior of canids such as gray wolves and African wild dogs. The preputial glands of female animals are sometimes called clitoral glands. The preputial glands of male musk deer produce strong-smelling deer musk which is of economic importance, as it is used in perfumes. Human homologues There is debate about whether humans have functional homologues to preputial glands. Preputial glands were first noted by Edward Tyson and in 1694 fully described by William Cowper who named them Tyson's glands after Tyson. They are described as modified sebaceous glands located around the corona and inner surface of the prepuce of the human penis. They are believed to be most frequently found in the balanopreputial sulcus. ...
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Labia Minora
The labia minora (Latin for 'smaller lips', singular: ''labium minus'', 'smaller lip'), also known as the inner labia, inner lips, vaginal lips or nymphae are two flaps of skin on either side of the human vaginal opening in the vulva, situated between the labia majora (Latin for 'larger lips'; also called outer labia, or outer lips). The labia minora vary widely in size, color and shape from individual to individual. The labia minora are homologous to the male urethral surface of the penis. Structure and functioning The labia minora extend from the clitoris obliquely downward, laterally, and backward on either side of the vulval vestibule, ending between the bottom of the vulval vestibule and the labia majora. The posterior ends (bottom) of the labia minora are usually joined across the middle line by a flap of skin, named the frenulum of labia minora or fourchette. On the front, each lip forks dividing into two portions surrounding the clitoris. The upper part of each lip pas ...
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Phimosis
Phimosis (from Greek language, Greek φίμωσις ''phimōsis'' 'muzzling'.) is a condition in which the foreskin of the Human penis, penis cannot stretch to allow it to be pulled back past the Glans penis, glans. A balloon-like swelling under the foreskin may occur with urination. In teenagers and adults, it may result in pain during an erection, but is otherwise not painful. Those affected are at greater risk of inflammation of the glans, known as balanitis, and other complications. In young children, it is normal not to be able to pull back the foreskin at all. Over 90% of cases resolve by the age of seven, although full retraction is still prevented by preputial adhesions in over half at this age. Occasionally, phimosis may be caused by an underlying condition such as scarring due to balanitis or balanitis xerotica obliterans. This can typically be diagnosed by seeing scarring of the opening of the foreskin. Typically, the condition resolves without treatment by the age ...
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Ancient Greek Language
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek Dark Ages, Dark Ages (), the Archaic Greece, Archaic period (), and the Classical Greece, Classical period (). Ancient Greek was the language of Homer and of fifth-century Athens, fifth-century Athenian historians, playwrights, and Ancient Greek philosophy, philosophers. It has contributed many words to English vocabulary and has been a standard subject of study in educational institutions of the Western world since the Renaissance. This article primarily contains information about the Homeric Greek, Epic and Classical periods of the language. From the Hellenistic period (), Ancient Greek was followed by Koine Greek, which is regarded as a separate historical stage, although its earliest form closely resembles Attic Greek and its latest form a ...
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Lysozymes
Lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17, muramidase, ''N''-acetylmuramide glycanhydrolase; systematic name peptidoglycan ''N''-acetylmuramoylhydrolase) is an antimicrobial enzyme produced by animals that forms part of the innate immune system. It is a glycoside hydrolase that catalyzes the following process: : Hydrolysis of (1→4)-β-linkages between ''N''-acetylmuramic acid and ''N''-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in a peptidoglycan and between ''N''-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitodextrins Peptidoglycan is the major component of gram-positive bacterial cell wall. This hydrolysis in turn compromises the integrity of bacterial cell walls causing lysis of the bacteria. Lysozyme is abundant in secretions including tears, saliva, human milk, and mucus. It is also present in cytoplasmic granules of the macrophages and the polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Large amounts of lysozyme can be found in egg white. C-type lysozymes are closely related to α-lactalbumin in sequence and s ...
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Urethral Gland
The urethral or periurethral glands (also Littré glands after Alexis Littré) are glands that branch off the wall of the urethra of mammals. The glands secrete mucus and are most numerous in the section of the urethra that runs through the penis. Urethral glands produce a colloid secretion containing glycosaminoglycans; this secretion protects the epithelium against urine.Human Microscopic Anatomy: An Atlas for Students of Medicine and Biology
By Radivoj V. Krstić, page 382 Untreated can lead to infection of the urethral glands, which can in turn result in impeding

Cathepsin B
Cathepsin B belongs to a family of lysosomal cysteine proteases known as the cysteine cathepsins and plays an important role in intracellular proteolysis. In humans, cathepsin B is encoded by the ''CTSB'' gene. Cathepsin B is upregulated in certain cancers, in pre-malignant lesions, and in various other pathological conditions. Structure Gene The ''CTSB'' gene is located at chromosome 8p22, consisting of 13 exons. The promoter of CTSB gene contains a GC-rich region including many SP1 sites, which is similar to housekeeping genes. At least five transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene. Protein Cathepsin B is synthesized on the rough endoplasmic reticulum as a preproenzyme of 339 amino acids with a signal peptide of 17 amino acids. Procathepsin B of 43/46 kDa is then transported to the Golgi apparatus, where cathepsin B is formed. Mature cathepsin B is composed of a heavy chain of 25-26 kDa and a light chain of 5kDa, which are linked by a dime ...
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Urethral Diverticulum
A urethral diverticulum is a condition where the urethra or the periurethral glands push into the connective tissue layers ( fascia) that surround it. Signs and symptoms Urethral diverticula are often asymptomatic and symptoms that are present tend to be nonspecific. They can co-occur with cancer, in approximately 6-9% of cases, most commonly adenocarcinoma, but also including squamous cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma. Approximately 10% of cases co-occur with kidney stones. There are 2 types of urethral diverticulums. Congenital and acquired. In infancy usually the urethral diverticulum is congenital but in rare instances acquired urethral diverticulum can be seen in infancy specially following traumatic catheterization. Common symptoms of urethral diverticulum include incontinence, urinary frequency and urgency, pain during sex, and pain during urination. Other symptoms include pain localized to the urethra or pelvis and frequent urinary tract infection. Whe ...
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Cytokines
Cytokines are a broad and loose category of small proteins (~5–25 kDa) important in cell signaling. Cytokines are peptides and cannot cross the lipid bilayer of cells to enter the cytoplasm. Cytokines have been shown to be involved in autocrine, paracrine and endocrine signaling as immunomodulating agents. Cytokines include chemokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphokines, and tumour necrosis factors, but generally not hormones or growth factors (despite some overlap in the terminology). Cytokines are produced by a broad range of cells, including immune cells like macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and mast cells, as well as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and various stromal cells; a given cytokine may be produced by more than one type of cell. They act through cell surface receptors and are especially important in the immune system; cytokines modulate the balance between humoral and cell-based immune responses, and they regulate the maturation, growth, and resp ...
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