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Terms:
· The Penis: The interior of the penis is made up of two different types of tissue, called the corpus cavernosum and the corpus spongiosum, as well as nerves and blood vessels.
· Glans: is the bulbous part at the tip of the penis that looks like a hat — officially called the “head.†It’s generally more sensitive than the shaft (the long part) of the penis. In the glans is the opening to the urethra, the tube through which urine and semen, which aids in fertilizing a woman’s egg in order to make a baby, both come out.
· Foreskin: In America, it’s rare to find a man who still has a foreskin, due to the widespread practice of circumcision — an ancient practice with origins in religious rites. If a man has one, it covers the glans when his penis isn’t erect and gets pulled back when it is. According to Manta, men with foreskin tend to have greater sensitivity. “A lot of people think foreskin is dirty but that’s not true. You can keep it clean the same way you would any other part of your body,†says Manta. In other parts of the world, say Paris, France, most men still have foreskin, so you might very encounter this in your lifetime.
· Frenulum: the area found on the underside of the glans (on a circumcised penis, it’s where the foreskin would have met the head), is the most sensitive part of the penis.
· Scrotum/Testicles: Sperm is made in the testicles, which live in the sack-like structure called the scrotum. Sperm then travels up an internal tube called the vas deferens and into the seminal vesicle (where some of the other components of semen are made). Dr. Paduch notes that the scrotum and surrounding areas are usually covered with hair, and many young guys are shaving, or manscaping, the area these days.
· Prostate: This is another internal structure. When the sperm gets to the seminal vesicle, it dumps into the prostate where it mixes with all the other ingredients that make it into semen. Semen is made up of sperm, sugar, mucous, vitamins, and protein. The purpose of the semen is to protect the sperm — think of the semen as a river and the sperm as fish. Sperm is alkaline and the vagina is acidic, so the fluid helps protect the sperm from your #girlboss vagina, which generally wants to protect itself from interlopers except for two days during the month when you ovulate. The prostate itself is also very sensitive when simulated.
· Ejaculation: When a guy has an orgasm, the semen comes out the urethra with an explosive pumping motion. The semen is usually an opaque color and can have some variation in texture – sticky, gummy, or liquid-like. Dr. Paduch notes that if it’s a yellowish green color or putrid smelly, it could indicate an infection. (Guys should also do inspections of their penis regularly for any sores or lesions, which can indicate an STI. If you see anything like that, avoid contact and suggest he gets checked out. Always a good idea to give a penis a quick visual scan before touching.) There is also pre-ejaculate that sometimes comes out to help with lubrication. Manta warns that this fluid can get you pregnant or carry disease, so protect yourself accordingly any time you come into contact with someone else’s fluids. We’re talking condoms, all the time, girls.
· Perineum: This is the area between the penis and the anus, and according to Manta, it is a very sensitive area, from which the prostate can be stimulated. The area just above the penis is similarly sensitive, because much like our own internal clitoris, the penis tissues extend into the body so it can also be stimulated a bit from outside.
