The penis is the male organ used for urination and sexual intercourse. It is located above the scrotum and is made of spongy tissue and blood vessels. The shaft of the penis surrounds the urethra and is connected to the pubic bone. The foreskin covers the head (glans) of the penis, which is removed if the boy is circumcised. During puberty, the penis lengthens, and the ability to ejaculate begins at around age 12 to 14. Ejaculation is the release of sperm-containing fluid from the penis during an orgasm.
The main functions of the penis include reproduction and urination. The penis contains soft, spongy tissue as well as muscles, fibrous tissue, veins, arteries, and the urethra, which allow it to perform its functions. The penis also plays an important urinary role, as it contains the urethra, which allows passage of urine from the bladder to the urethral opening, enabling a person to expel urine from the body.
Anatomy of the penis includes the root (radix), the body (corpus), and the epithelium of the penis, including the glans. The penis contains the urethra, which allows passage of urine from the bladder to the urethral opening, enabling a person to expel urine from the body. In its flaccid state, the penis is smaller, gives to pressure, and the glans is covered by the foreskin. In its fully erect state, the corpus becomes rigid, and the glans becomes engorged but not rigid. An erect penis may be straight or curved and may point at an upward angle, a downward angle, or straight ahead. The average erect human penis is 13.12 cm (5.17 in) long and has a circumference of 11.66 cm (4.59 in) .
Changes in the appearance, sensation, or performance of the penis can indicate an underlying issue that may require medical attention. Conditions of the penis include buried penis, micropenis, erectile dysfunction, chordee, epispadias, hypospadias, palmatus or webbed penis, Peyronies disease, and phimosis.
