Man’s visible sexual organs
A man’s visible (external) sexual organs are:
- penis;
- glans;
- scrotum.
The glans is the sensitive tip of the penis. The foreskin is wrapped around the glans. You can move the foreskin backwards and forwards. Some men are circumcised. They no longer have a foreskin, or part of the foreskin.
The urinary meatus lies in the glans.
Penis and scrotum
The penis has 2 functions:
- When the penis is soft: urine can leave the body through the penis;
- When the penis is hard (erection): semen can leave the body through the penis.
Semen and urine cannot leave the penis at the same time.
A man who is aroused can get an erection. The penis then swells with blood. Men often have a hard penis when they wake up in the morning. This does not mean they are aroused.
During sexual intercourse, the penis enters the vagina (penetration).
The scrotum contains the testicles.
Types of penises
The size and shape of the penis can vary. Some men have a large penis, others have a smaller one. Both the size of the erect penis and the flaccid (soft) penis can vary from man to man. Some men have a curved penis, others have a straighter one. The way the penis looks is not important for its functions or for good sex.