Abstract
At birth, the foreskin is naturally adherent to the glans. From about 2–4 years of age, there is a dissolution of the bond presumably with the formation of pockets of sebaceous material (smegmal “pearls”), allowing it to retract. From about 5 years, most boys should have the ability of full unimpeded foreskin retraction.
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Notes
- 1.
Phimosis (φίμωσις Greek) – muzzling, as in the muzzle of dog’s jaw.
- 2.
Balanitis (Greek) – the word balanos refers to resemblance of the glans to an acorn!
- 3.
Semitic – the word refers to one of the sons of Noah – Shem, and implies all the people of that part of the world.
- 4.
Antonio Maria Valsalva (1666 – 1723) – Italian anatomist working in Bologna. Main interest was that of middle ear and this tested patency of the Eustachian tube.
Further Reading
Paduch DA, Skoog SJ (2001) Current management of adolescent varicocele. Rev Urol 3:120–133
Diamond DA (2007) Adolescent varicocoele. Curr Opin Urol 17:263–267
Cayan S, Woodhouse CR (2007) The treatment of adolescents presenting with varicocele. BJU Int 100:744–747
Davenport M (1996) Problems with the penis and prepuce – ABC of Paediatric Surgery series. Brit Med J 312:299–301
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Davenport, M. (2010). Miscellaneous Problems of the Male Genitalia. In: Sinha, C., Davenport, M. (eds) Handbook of Pediatric Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-132-3_36
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