Glans

For the clam genus, see Carditidae.

The glans (/ɡlænz/,^[1][2] pl.: glandes /ˈɡlændiːz/; from the Latin word for "acorn")^[3] is a vascular structure located at the tip of the penis in male mammals or a homologous genital structure of the clitoris in female mammals.^[4]

Structure

Typical human female glans clitoridis, a pea-sized structure between the clitoral hood and the urinary meatus

Typical human male glans penis, at the end of the penis, showing the urinary meatus at its tip

The exterior structure of the glans consists of mucous membrane, which is usually covered by foreskin or clitoral hood in naturally developed genitalia. This covering, called the prepuce, is normally retractable in adulthood unless removed by circumcision.

The glans naturally joins with the frenulum of the penis or clitoris, as well as the inner labia in women, and the foreskin in men. In non-technical or sexual discussions, often the word "clitoris" refers to the external glans alone, excluding the clitoral hood, frenulum, and internal body of the clitoris.^[5] Similarly, phrases "tip" or "head" of the penis refers to the glans alone.^[6]

Sex differences in humans

In males, the glans is known as the glans penis, while in females the glans is known as the clitoral glans.

In females, the clitoris is above the urethra. The glans of the clitoris is the most highly innervated part of the external female genitalia.^[7]

Sex differences in other mammals

In spotted hyenas, the female's pseudo-penis can be distinguished from the male's penis by its greater thickness and more rounded glans.^{[8][9][10][11]} In both male and female spotted hyenas, the base of the glans is covered with penile spines.^[12][13][14]

Development

In the development of the urinary and reproductive organs, the glans is derived from the genital tubercle.

See also

• Glanuloplasty

References

1. OED 2nd edition, 1989.
2. Entry "glans" in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
3. "glans" at merriam-webster.com
4. Drake, Richard Lee; Vogl, Wayne; Mitchell, Adam William Michael; Gray, Henry (15 November 2015). Gray's Anatomy for Students (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Churchill Livingstone; Elsevier (published 2015). p. 506. ISBN 978-0-7020-5131-9. OCLC 881508489. OL 28520901M.
5. Puppo, Vincenzo (2011). "Anatomy of the Clitoris: Revision and Clarifications about the Anatomical Terms for the Clitoris Proposed (without Scientific Bases) by Helen O'Connell, Emmanuele Jannini, and Odile Buisson". ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2011: 261464. doi:10.5402/2011/261464. ISSN 2090-4436. PMC 3175415. PMID 21941661.
6. "What are the parts of the male sexual anatomy?". Planned Parenthood.
7. Carroll 2012, pp. 110–111, 252; Di Marino 2014, p. 81
8. Glickman SE, Cunha GR, Drea CM, Conley AJ and Place NJ. (2006). Mammalian sexual differentiation: lessons from the spotted hyena. Trends Endocrinol Metab 17:349–356.
9. M. G. L. Mills; Gus Mills; Heribert Hofer (1998). Hyaenas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN. pp. 31–. ISBN 978-2-8317-0442-5. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
10. Kevin Robert Theis (2008). Scent Marking in a Highly Social Mammalian Species, the Spotted Hyena, Crocuta Crocuta. Michigan State University. Zoology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-1-109-03595-7. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
11. "The Truth About Hyaenas: debunking hyaena myths". Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
12. R. F. Ewer (1973). The Carnivores. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-8493-3. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
13. Richard Estes (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-08085-0. Retrieved 9 January 2013. glans spines.
14. Catherine Blackledge (2003). The Story of V: A Natural History of Female Sexuality. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-3455-8. Retrieved 9 January 2013. glans spines hyena.

Works cited

• Carroll, Janell L. (2012). Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-111-83581-1.
• Di Marino, Vincent (2014). Anatomic Study of the Clitoris and the Bulbo-Clitoral Organ. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-04894-9.