The prepuce, or foreskin, is the double fold of skin and mucosa that covers the glans of the penis. It is attached to the underside of the glans by a small fold, the frenulum. It is removed in circumcision.
| Location | Covering the glans penis, continuous with the skin of the shaft |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Dorsal nerve of the penis |
| Blood Supply | Dorsal artery of the penis; External pudendal arteries |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Protects the glans and keeps its surface moist and sensitive.
In infants the foreskin is normally stuck to the glans and gradually becomes retractable during childhood. A tight foreskin that will not retract in adults (phimosis) can cause infection and pain, while a retracted foreskin that cannot be returned (paraphimosis) is an emergency because it constricts the glans. Lichen sclerosus is a common cause of scarring phimosis.
A tight foreskin that cannot be pulled back over the glans, causing pain, infection or difficulty passing urine.
A retracted foreskin trapped behind the glans, causing painful swelling that needs urgent reduction.
A chronic inflammatory skin condition that scars the foreskin and glans, often causing phimosis.
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