Ask Kayla Quinn

[March 25, 2009] - The foreskin (known as the prepuce) is the flexible, double-layered sheath of specialized skin that covers and shields the head of a normal penis; every human (and non-human primate) male is born with one. The foreskin is incredibly elastic, has zero subcutaneous fat and it has a thin, smooth muscle lining it. The foreskin is more than just skin; it is a complex, highly mobile, and beautifully engineered organ composed of an intricate web of blood vessels, muscle, and nerves. The foreskin contains just under 250 feet of nerve fibers and 10,000's of specialized erotogenic nerve endings of various types (this is what gives the penis its incredible sensitivity to pressure, touch, movement/motion, temperature changes, etc). It is common in many cultures and religions to remove this delicate skin via circumcision. While normally done while the male is still an infant, a circumcision can be performed on an adult. Think of the foreskin as an eyelid for your one-eyed-willy...it serves the same basic protective function!