Sex 101 - Male Genitalia
This drawing of male genitals and the description of their functioning
during sexual response are presented as a guide to understanding how your
body, as well as your partner's body, looks and acts. Please keep in mind,
though, that each person has unique patterns and sensitivities.
Urethral Opening -- At the end of the penis, this opening serves
as the duct through which both urine and ejaculation (semen) flow.
Glans -- The fleshy "head" of the penis and most sensitive
to stimulation. Usually larger in diameter than the shaft, the glands is
responsible for the greatest sensation during intercourse.
Coronal Ridge -- The widest portion around the glans.
Frenulum -- On the underside of the penis, with a different texture
to its skin, this area is often highly responsive to stimulation.
Foreskin -- The moveable piece of skin covering the head of the penis.
During erection, the foreskin rolls back just below the coronal ridge. In
circumcised men, the foreskin has been removed.
Shaft -- The part of the penis between the glans and the body, which
is filled with chambers. During arousal these chambers fill with blood,
causing the shaft to stiffen. This is what causes the erection because
unlike many other animals, man has no bone or gristle to ensure stiffness.
Scrotum -- The sac encasing the testicles just below the penis.
Gentle stroking here can be highly pleasurable.
Testicles -- Two spherical glands within the scrotum which produce
sperm. The sperm are carried through spermatic cords, joining fluids
produced by the prostate gland and seminal vesicles to produce semen,
which is then ejaculated. One of the cords is called the epididymis and
the difference in the length of the two epididymides is responsible for
one testicle being slightly lower than the other.
Perineum -- The area between the base of the penis and the anus.
Beneath the skin are more chambers which fill with blood during arousal,
just as the penis does. This area is often very sensitive to gentle
stimulation.
Anus -- Serves primarily as the outlet for body wastes, but has a
concentration of nerve endings which, in some, can be highly responsive
to stimulation.
Excerpted from the SAR Guide for a Better Sex Life and provided with
the guidance and permission of the National Sex Forum.