What is a penis?
What is penis?
The organ found on most male mammals (man) and reptiles, that is the method of reproduction. Man's sex organ for the delivery of sperm.
Definition
The male organ, that allows for procreation as well as to dispose of liquid waste from the bladder. It has many nicknames, and in its native form, is still found to be humorous by younger children.
History
'Penis' is taken from the Latin word meaning 'tail'. While the Latin word 'phallus' (from Greek) is also associated with meaning a penis, it was originally used to refer to images of the penis, not the penis itself.
The Oxford English Dictionary notes that prior to accepting the Latin word for penis, it was referred to as 'yard' and notes its reference in the English language around 1379.
About
Made up of three columns of tissue, the penis is considered a reproductive organ, found on most mammals and reptiles. The bulbous head is referred to as the 'glans penis' which supports the foreskin (also referred to as the prepuce, the loose fold of skin that can be retracted to show the glans penis). The part below, or underneath is called the 'frenum'
The tiny slit or hole, on the glans penis, that allows the urine or semen to pass through, is called the 'meatus'. The tube that connects to the 'meatus' is the urethra which allows for the passage of urine and semen.
The major difference for humans, versus other mammals is the lack of a 'baculum' or erectile bone in the Penis. Instead, erection is achieved by the flow of blood to the glans penis. Additionally it cannot be withdrawn into the rectum, like other mammals can. In comparison to body mass, a human's penis is disproportionate in size versus other mammals.
Practice (Associated Acts): The penis begins to grow, as early as age 10 and as late as age 15. Generally it reaches its full size by the ages of 18 to 21. It is during this growth period that pubic hair grows and begins to surround the penis.
Erections occur when the blood vessels constrict on leaving the penis, while the flow into the penis continues. The arteries constrict, forcing the blood into the tissue around the urethra, causing the swelling or erection state. This swelling constricts the veins, while the arteries are dilated (expanded).
When the flow of blood leaving the veins equals the flow entering, the penis has reached its full erected state. It is common for an erect penis to point at different angles. Most common is upwards.
About 5% of erections point between 0 and 30 degrees upwards. Zero degrees being that the penis is in line with the standing male, the glans penis pointing up.
30% of erections point in a 30 to 60 degree angle upwards.
31% of males standing, have their erections pointing from 60 to 85 degrees upwards.
Note that a 90 degree angle would mean that the penis is sticking out horizontally from the body, creating a 90 degree angle.
10% have the erection pointing between 85 and 95 degrees.
20% will point between 95 and 120 degrees, which is a downward angle.
The remaining 5% of males will have their erection pointing downwards from 120 to 180 degrees from the body. A full 180 degrees would mean the glans penis is directly pointing down towards the feet.
Noteworthy: Few penises are straight, and there is a curvature to the organ. Not to be confused with an angle of erection, a curvature is that the entire organ has a bend to it,
Having a curvature up to 30 degrees is considered normal, and not requiring medical intervention.
Medical treatment is generally not advised unless the curvature exceeds a 45 degree angle.