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Revision as of 18:51, 23 May 2001 by AyeSpy (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The penis is the male copulatory organ, and, in mammals, the male organ of urinary excretion.
The penis is built of three columns of erectile tissue:
- the two corpora cavernosa and
- one corpus spongiosum which lies below them.
The end of corpus spongiosum is enlarged and cone-shaped and forms so called glans penis.
Erection is achieved by influx of blood into a labirynth of blood vessels. The vessels are distended and reflex muscle contraction around veins traps blood in vessels of erectile tissue.
The urethra that is the last part of urinary tract traverses the corpus spongiosum and its end lies on the tip of the glans penis. Apart from being a passage for urine it also is for semen ejaculation.
A loose fold of skin partly covering the glans is called prepuce.
Related subjects : impotence, priapismus, circumcision, sexual intercourse; clitoris; vagina.
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Is this true of all penises, or just human penises? If human only, should this be a subcategory under human anatomy?
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This architecture is common to the penises of a great many animals, and almost universal among mammals, with the exception of the prepuce (or foreskin). In addition, however, some animals have additional features such as the os penis in dogs (penile bone) and such. The precise description above is only human.