The frenulum of prepuce of penis, often known simply as the frenulum, is a highly

erogenous An erogenous zone (from Greek , ''érōs'' "love"; and English ''-genous'' "producing", from Greek , ''-genḗs'' "born") is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity, the stimulation of which may generate a sexual response, suc ...

elastic band of tissue under the

glans penis In male human anatomy, the glans penis, commonly referred to as the glans, is the bulbous structure at the distal end of the human penis that is the human male's most sensitive erogenous zone and their primary anatomical source of sexual pl ...

that connects the

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 ...

to the vernal mucosa, and helps contract the foreskin over the glans. Along with the ridged bands at the tip of the

, it is considered to be the most sensitive part of the

penis A penis (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'' () is the primary sexual organ that male animals use to inseminate females (or hermaphrodites) during copulation. Such organs occur in many animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, but males d ...

to fine-touch. In the event of

frenulum breve A frenulum (or frenum, plural: frenula or frena, from the Latin ''frēnulum'', "little bridle", the diminutive of ''frēnum'') is a small fold of tissue that secures the motion of a mobile organ in the body. In human anatomy Frenula on the ...

or frenular chordee, or to ensure that the glans can be freely and completely exposed, the frenulum may be partially or totally removed in a procedure known as frenulectomy.

Sensitivity

The frenulum and the associated tissue delta on the underside of the

below the corona has been described in sexuality textbooks as "very reactive" and "particularly responsive to touch that is light and soft". The "underside of the shaft of the penis, meaning the part below the corona" is a "source of distinct pleasure". Crooks and Baur observe that two extremely sensitive specific locations that many men find particularly responsive to stimulation are the corona, and the frenulum. Repeated stimulation of this structure will cause orgasm and ejaculation.

Research

For those with spinal cord injuries preventing sensations from reaching the brain, the frenulum just below the glans can be stimulated to produce orgasm and peri-ejaculatory response. It is often a way for those with spinal cord injuries to engage in sexual activities and subsequently feel pleasure.

Pathology

Frenulum breve A frenulum (or frenum, plural: frenula or frena, from the Latin ''frēnulum'', "little bridle", the diminutive of ''frēnum'') is a small fold of tissue that secures the motion of a mobile organ in the body. In human anatomy Frenula on the ...

is a condition in which the frenulum is short and restricts the movement of the foreskin, which may or may not interfere with normal sexual activity. The condition can be treated by frenuloplasty, frenectomy, or

circumcision Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Top ...

. Frenulum breve may contribute to frenular chordee, where the glans is pulled toward the vernal body of the penis. Frenulum breve may also be treated by manually expanding the shaft skin by stretching in

castration Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which an individual loses use of the testicles: the male gonad. Surgical castration is bilateral orchiectomy (excision of both testicles), while chemical castration uses pharm ...

. The frenulum may be entirely missing in cases of first degree

hypospadias Hypospadias is a common variation in fetal development of the penis in which the urethra does not open from its usual location in the head of the penis. It is the second-most common birth abnormality of the male reproductive system, affecting ab ...

. It is possible for the frenulum to tear during sexual activities. The frenular artery, a branch of the dorsal artery, may be severed, causing significant bleeding.

Penis frenectomy or frenuloplasty

As a treatment for

or frenular chordee a frenectomy can be performed to excise the frenulum from the penis. This is a form of genital frenectomy. This procedure results in a smooth surface. A less invasive treatment which often retains the natural appearance and function of the frenulum to some degree is a frenuloplasty which involves a (partial) incision of the frenulum and realigning the edges to gain more length. Human circumscised frenulum

File:Frenulumretained-circumcised.jpg, Frenulum divided by frenuloplasty during circumcision. File:Penisfrenulum.jpg, A human frenulum of prepuce of penis displaying frenular

chordee Chordee is a condition in which the head of the penis curves downward or upward, at the junction of the head and shaft of the penis. The curvature is usually most obvious during erection, but resistance to straightening is often apparent in the ...

. File:Flaccid penis post frenulectomy.jpg, Penile appearance of a 28 year old male post frenulectomy

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frenulum Of Prepuce Of Penis Circumcision debate Human penis anatomy Mammal male reproductive system