ridged band

The ridged band is a band of mobile skin at the most distal end of the foreskin. It is part of the ''akroposthion:'' the portion which extends beyond the glans. It has, especially in regard to phimosis and preputioplasty, been called the preputial ring or phimotic ring. More particularly, it refers to the transitional area from the external to the internal surface of the prepuce, or foreskin. Rich in Meissner's corpuscles, the area is usually described as highly erogenous.

Along with the frenulum of the penis, it is considered to be the most sensitive part of the penis to fine-touch. It was discovered by Canadian pathologist and medical researcher John Taylor in 1991 and first anatomically and histologically detailed in the ''British Journal of Urology'' in 1996. The structure is generally believed to be important in male sexual sensation and reflexes, although a 2015 review by Cox and colleagues stated that the feature was particular to some men and that Taylor's illustrations of the structure had been inconsistent. (Reprint: cirp.org) Most or all of the ridged band is removed by male circumcision due to its position on the prepuce.

History

''Taylor et al.'' (1996)

Taylor first used the term "ridged band" instead of "wrinkly skin" and described the structure at the ''Second International Symposium on Circumcision'', organized by ''NOCIRC'' in San Francisco, 1991, after examining the foreskins of 22 adults obtained at autopsy. The term ''ridged band'' was subsequently used by him in an anatomical and histological study of the foreskin published in the ''British Journal of Urology'' in 1996. The mean age was 37 years, range 22–58. The prepuces were studied grossly and histologically.

''Cox et al.'' (2015)

In June of 2015, a review conducted by Guy Cox and colleagues to determine whether male circumcision had an effect on sexual sensation was published. In this review, 41 unique publications on penile structure were retrieved. When noting the publications of pathologist John Taylor, the group stated that Taylor's illustrations of the ridged band were inconsistent and did "not appear to show the same structure" in a subsequent publication of Taylor's. The group believed that evidence supported their "contention that the ridged band is not a defined structure but merely a matter of interindividual idiosyncrasy." The review eventually concluded that they believed that circumcision had "no adverse effect on sexual pleasure."

Structure

Taylor described the ridged band as a transversely ridged band of mucosal tissue, located just inside the tip of the foreskin near the mucocutaneous boundary, also known as the ''preputial sphincter''. He characterized the ridged band as intensely vascular and richly innervated, stating that it "contains more Meissner's corpuscles than does the smooth mucosa", and noted that these tactile corpuscles were found only in the crests of ridges.

Function

The prepuce, including the ridged band, is a specific erogenous zone.

Taylor (1996) postulates that "the ridged band with its unique structure, tactile corpuscles and other nerves, is primarily sensory tissue". He hypothesizes (2007) that Meissner's corpuscles in the ridged band are adapted to detect stretch:
:Work in progress indicates that retraction and stretching of this accordion-like structure triggers reflex contraction of bulbocavernosus and bulbospongiosus.

Taylor theorizes that the main function of the ridged band is to trigger sexual reflexes. In a letter to the editor of ''BJU International'', 2007, Taylor writes:
:Initial study (J.R.T. unpublished) indicates that the real importance of the ridged band to sexual intercourse lies in an ability to trigger a reflex contraction of muscles responsible for ejaculation.

In the ''Journal of Sexual Medicine'', 2007, Taylor states:

:Both glans and prepuce contribute to the single mucocutaneous junctional zone of the penis and it is possible that these apparently dissimilar structures in fact share similar functions related more to sexual reflexes than to touch perception.

The effect of circumcision on sexual function is the subject of intense debate. Taylor's view is that "almost certainly, removal of the prepuce and its ridged band distorts penile reflexogenic functions but exactly how and to what extent still remains to be seen". More recent research has demonstrated that the clinically important bulbocavernosus reflex is absent in 73% of circumcised men ostensibly due to the removal of fine-touch nerve endings in the ridged band.

For an overview of the issues surrounding male circumcision and sexual function, see Sexual effects of circumcision.

See also

* Mucocutaneous zone
*Preputial mucosa
* Sexual effects of circumcision

References

{{reflist

External links

Scientific research

*
The Ridged Band: Specialized Sexual Tissue
'

Circumcision debate
Human penis anatomy
Penis
Sexual anatomy