Rigi10™ Malleable Penile Prosthesis
Also Known As
Head of the penis, tip of the penis, penile glans, balanus, acorn (from Latin 'glans').⁶⁷⁸
Definition
The glans penis, commonly referred to as the head or tip of the penis, is the bulbous, conical-shaped structure located at the distal end of the penis.¹²³ It is a highly innervated and vascular body, making it the most sensitive part of the penis.⁴ The glans is covered by a mucous membrane, which is a continuation of the inner layer of the prepuce (foreskin) in uncircumcised males; in circumcised males, the glans is permanently exposed and the epithelium may become keratinized.⁵
The primary functions of the glans penis are related to both urination and sexual reproduction. The opening of the urethra, known as the meatus, is situated at the very tip of the glans, allowing for the passage of urine from the body when the penis is flaccid, and semen during ejaculation.¹ During sexual intercourse, the glans penis plays a crucial role in sexual stimulation due to its high concentration of nerve endings.¹ While the shaft of the penis becomes rigid when erect, the glans itself remains relatively softer, which helps it to act as a shock absorber during sexual activity.¹
Anatomically, the glans is an expansion of the corpus spongiosum, one of the three columns of erectile tissue in the penis. It is separated from the shaft of the penis by the corona, which is a rounded, projecting border at its base, and the neck of the glans, a slight constriction behind the corona.¹
Clinical Context
The glans penis is clinically significant due to its involvement in various medical conditions and its role in sexual function and urination.¹ It is a common site for inflammation, infections, and other dermatological conditions. Balanitis, an inflammation of the glans, is a frequent issue, particularly in uncircumcised males, and can be caused by poor hygiene, irritation, or infections (e.g., candidiasis).¹ When both the glans and foreskin are inflamed, the condition is termed balanoposthitis.¹
Several sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can manifest on the glans, including human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause genital warts, and herpes simplex virus (HSV), leading to painful lesions.¹ Bacterial STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause discharge and painful urination, with symptoms noticeable around the meatus on the glans.¹ Syphilis may present with a chancre on the glans.¹
Chronic inflammatory conditions such as lichen sclerosus and lichen planus can affect the glans, leading to symptoms like skin thinning, depigmentation, itching, pain, and in severe cases, urethral meatal stenosis or phimosis.¹ Phimosis, the inability to retract the foreskin over the glans, and paraphimosis, where a retracted foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans (a medical emergency), are conditions directly involving the glans and foreskin.¹
Congenital anomalies like hypospadias often require surgical correction when the urethral meatus is located ventrally and proximally to its normal position on the tip of the glans.¹ The glans is also a site where penile cancer can develop, with symptoms including sores, lumps, skin changes, or abnormal discharge.¹ Risk factors for penile cancer include being uncircumcised, HPV infection, and phimosis.¹
Diagnostic procedures involving the glans may include visual inspection, swabs for microbiological analysis, biopsies for suspicious lesions, and urodynamic studies if urinary issues are present. Treatments vary widely depending on the underlying condition and can range from topical creams (antibiotics, antifungals, steroids) for infections and inflammations, to surgical interventions for conditions like phimosis, paraphimosis, hypospadias, or penile cancer.¹ The sensitivity of the glans is also a critical factor in sexual medicine, with conditions like premature ejaculation sometimes linked to its hypersensitivity.¹