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Glans penis: anatomy, location and function

The glans penis is the cone-shaped distal end of the penis. It is rich in sensory nerve endings, providing sexual sensation.

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Structures

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Highlighted in the model: Glans penis. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Glans penis at a glance

What it is
The glans penis is the cone-shaped distal end of the penis.
Location
It is the expanded end of the corpus spongiosum, capping the ends of the corpora cavernosa. It is covered by the prepuce (foreskin) in uncircumcised males, with the external urethral orifice at its tip.
Function
It is rich in sensory nerve endings, providing sexual sensation.
Body system
Reproductive · single, midline structure
FMA ID
FMA18247 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • Supplied by the dorsal nerve of the penis (pudendal nerve branch).
  • Its raised rim, the corona, overhangs the neck of the penis.

Clinical relevance

Phimosis is a non-retractable foreskin; balanitis is inflammation of the glans.

Structures next to the glans penis

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Glans penis (FMA18247). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §27.1 Anatomy and Physiology of the Testicular Reproductive System. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Related anatomy

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.