[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Pelvis · Male](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/pelvis/) › Skin of penis [Reproductive system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/reproductive-system/) · [Pelvis · Male](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/pelvis/) # Skin of penis The skin of the penis is thin and loose, sliding over the erectile bodies so the penis can lengthen; at the tip it folds over the glans as the foreskin. Official name: Skin of penis; prepuce of penis [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=pelvis&variant=male&select=penile_skin&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is Thin, loose, almost hairless skin over the shaft of the penis, folded forward over the glans as the foreskin (prepuce). ## What it does Slides freely over the erectile bodies so the penis can lengthen; its lymph drains to the groin nodes. ## Key points - Paraphimosis: a tight foreskin left retracted forms a constricting ring behind the glans, which swells; an emergency to reduce - Thin and loose on a fat-free dartos layer, so fluid and blood spread easily and swelling can be dramatic - A non-retractable foreskin is normal in infants (physiological phimosis); it usually loosens during childhood - Its looseness lets it be stripped from the shaft in machinery accidents (degloving injury) ## Key facts **Where** Thin, loose, almost hairless skin over the shaft, on a fat-free dartos layer; folds over the glans as the prepuce, tethered below by the frenulum **Attaches** Slides on the superficial (dartos) fascia over Buck (deep) fascia; firmly attached only at the neck of the glans; continuous with the scrotal skin **Function** Lets the penis lengthen in erection; sensation by the dorsal nerve (pudendal) and, at the base, the ilioinguinal nerve; lymph to [superficial inguinal nodes](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/superficial-inguinal-nodes/) ## Relations **Deep** Dartos (superficial) fascia with the superficial dorsal vein, then Buck (deep) fascia around the erectile bodies **Behind** At the base, continuous with the [skin](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/skin/) of the pubic region and the [scrotum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/scrotum/) **In front** Folds over the [glans penis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/glans-of-penis/) as the prepuce, attached at the coronal sulcus and by the frenulum ## How to find it The shaft and foreskin are inspected; the foreskin is retracted to see the glans and then returned. Tightness, scarring (such as a white ring of lichen sclerosus), ulcers and warts are noted. ## On imaging Assessed by examination rather than imaging. Ultrasound shows the skin and the loose dartos layer as thin superficial lines over Buck fascia. Imaging helps place a swelling: edema, hematoma or cellulitis lies superficial to Buck fascia, while a penile fracture tears the tunica albuginea deep to it. In Fournier gangrene, ultrasound or CT shows gas in the soft tissues, CT best showing its extent. ## Common problems - Phimosis (a foreskin too tight to pull back). - Infections and skin conditions. ## How it is diagnosed Examination; Doppler ultrasound when needed. ## Treatment - Creams; circumcision when needed. ## Clinical notes - Lichen sclerosus scars the foreskin and meatus and is a cause of acquired phimosis and meatal stenosis - Genital ulcers and warts (syphilis, herpes, HPV) appear here; its lymph drains to the superficial inguinal nodes, which are checked - Preputial and shaft skin flaps are used to rebuild the urethra in hypospadias repair ## Development Ectoderm over the genital tubercle; the prepuce grows forward over the glans as a fold in fetal life and stays stuck to it at first. ## Related conditions - [Phimosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/phimosis/) - [Hypospadias](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/hypospadias/) - [Chancroid](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/chancroid/) - [Granuloma inguinale (donovanosis)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/granuloma-inguinale/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What is paraphimosis, and why is it an emergency? A tight foreskin left retracted forms a constricting ring behind the glans, which swells; it must be reduced urgently. ## Is a non-retractable foreskin abnormal in an infant? No; physiological phimosis is normal and usually loosens during childhood. ## Why can swelling of the penile skin be dramatic? The skin is thin and loose on a fat-free dartos layer, so fluid and blood spread easily. ## Which skin condition is a cause of acquired phimosis and meatal stenosis? Lichen sclerosus, which scars the foreskin and meatus (a white ring). [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/skin-of-penis-prepuce-of-penis/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** cutis penis; preputium penis **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Piel del pene; prepucio del pene **English (TA2)** Skin of penis; prepuce of penis **Also called** foreskin ## Related - [Glans penis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/glans-of-penis/) - [Scrotum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/scrotum/) - [Superficial inguinal nodes](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/superficial-inguinal-nodes/) - [Pudendal nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pudendal-nerve/) - [Dorsal nerve of penis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/dorsal-nerve-of-penis/) - [Dorsal artery of penis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/dorsal-artery-of-penis/) Sources: [Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Penis](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482236/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/skin-of-penis-prepuce-of-penis/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/skin-of-penis-prepuce-of-penis/