THE PREPUCE.
The prepuce is a common anatomical structure of the male and female external genitalia of all human and non-human primates; it has been present in primates for at least 65 million years, and is likely to be over 100 million years old, based on its commonality as an anatomical feature in mammals.
Certain cultures have excised the prepuce from children to conform to societal standards, while other cultures accept the complete external genitalia as normal.
The motives for circumcision in preliterate cultures are difficult to define, but include rites of passage, blood sacrifices and cultural markings.
Ritualistic, childhood genital surgery has become popular in the last several thousand years, making the prepuce the most vilified normal anatomical structure of the human body.
Rather than acknowledging the prepuce as normal anatomy, some contemporary physicians consider the penile and clitoral prepuce (or clitoral hood) to be dangerous and unhealthy.
However, before theoretical justifications for circumcision can be considered, a complete understanding of the normal anatomy and function of the prepuce is required.
This paper reviews the embryology, anatomy and function of the prepuce.
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Overview:-
The prepuce is an integral, normal part of the external genitalia that forms the anatomical covering of the glans penis and clitoris.
The outer epithelium has the protective function of internalising the glans (clitoris and penis), urethral meatus (in the male) and the inner preputial epithelium, thus decreasing external irritation or contamination.
The prepuce is a specialized, junctional mucocutaneous tissue which marks the boundary between mucosa and skin; it is similar to the eyelids, labia minora, anus and lips.
The male prepuce also provides adequate mucosa and skin to cover the entire penis during erection.
The unique innervation of the prepuce establishes its function as an erogenous tissue.
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