AIDS CIRCUMCISION FALLACY

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Bonobo3D
July 24, 2009

Dr. Dean Edell discusses the misleading and unsound arguments in the current drive to circumcise Africa. Why do/did you have foreskin? The foreskin occupies a prominent position on an important o...

Dr. Dean Edell discusses the misleading and unsound arguments in the current drive to circumcise Africa.

Why do/did you have foreskin?

The foreskin occupies a prominent position on an important organ. The foreskins location and structure indicate that it is the most important sensory tissue of the penis. Its persistence over millions of years suggests that it has played a role in the propagation of the species.

A well-integrated organ

Structurally, the penis is highly integrated. The glans, foreskin and skin of the penile shaft function as a single unit, not as a collection of separate parts with entirely different functions. The functions of the glans and foreskin are similar, and overlapping, but come fully into their own at different times during intercourse.

Simple sensations

The outer surface of the foreskin is specialized to detect feather-light touch and other sensations, including painful ones. The infamous zipper injury is an extreme example of the sort of damage the outer skin was designed to detect and prevent, long before the zipper posed a threat to the uninitiated.

Compared with the true (outer) skin of the foreskin, the glans is only feebly sensitive to light touch, pain, heat and cold. This is part of the reason we call the foreskin the primary sensory tissue of the penis. Without the foreskin, the end of the penis is numb to a host of sensations that tell the owner whether one of his most prized organs is in good company, or should move to safety.

Complex sensations

Thanks to its ridged band, the inner lining of the foreskin is specialized sexual tissue. The ridged band readily expands and contracts and is obviously designed to detect stretching forces. When penile shaft skin tugs on the ridged band, special genital corpuscles in the peaks of the ridges detect movement and trigger ejaculation. Stretching of the ridged band may also trigger and sustain erection.

Electrical stimulation of the glans triggers nerve impulses that pass to the spinal cord and then to the muscle of ejaculation. Clearly the glans has much in common with the foreskin. Where foreskin and glans part company, functionally as well as physically, is in their sensitivity to light touch, pain and heat and cold. Contrary to common opinion, the glans is not highly sensitive to a broad range of stimuli.

Foreskin vs. glans

It is unclear whether the ridged band simply plays backup for the glans, or whether the two have different functions. The location of the retracted ridged band on the erect penile shaft suggests that the difference is one of timing. Possibly, the foreskin and its ridged band are designed to ensure that sexual reflexes are triggered when, and only when, these structures are stretched during intercourse. The biological importance of the ridged band to conception is self-evident, but there is still a major gap in our understanding of the relation between form and function of the penis.

Dartos muscle

Penile skin has two important characteristics, apparent only on erection. Firstly penile skin tenses, stiffens and shortens, firming up the connection between shaft skin and ridged band. This change allows for the transmission of movement from the base of the erect penis to the ridged band.

Secondly, penile skin undergoes a marked frictional change, brought about by stiff, forward-pointing skin folds. The mechanism is similar to that which raises goosebumps.

The changes in penile skin are brought about by contraction of the Dartos muscle. Between them, stiffening and frictionality ensure that the ridged band is instantly alerted to changes in position of the penis within the vagina.

Why two layers?

The double-layering of the foreskin allows the delicate ridged band, which normally is safely hidden from view, to be deployed on the upper surface of the penile shaft during erection. There it stands a better chance of being activated. Double-layering also eases vaginal entry by offsetting the frictional resistance of erect shaft skin.

Summary

The various parts of the penis, including the foreskin, form a functional whole. The foreskin is the primary sensory tissue of the penis. The ridged band of the foreskin is built to trigger orgasm and ejaculation.

Category: Education

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Dr. Dean Edell circumcision HIV AIDS male genital mutilation wounding foreskin sexual politics integrity health

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onlynazisareanticirc (1 month ago) Show Hide

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Bonobo3D (1 month ago) Show Hide

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Interesting comment from someone who set up an account in this name and then closed it less than an hour after making this comment. Those attempting to promote circumcision of children or discredit those who defend children's rights to genital integrity are often irrational and increasingly desperate.

Ryan18181 (2 weeks ago) Show Hide

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You are an idiot Admit it! CIRCUMCISION IS WRONG ITS TIME TO STOP HURTING CHILDREN!

10sodot (1 month ago) Show Hide

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too bad The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation wasted millions on this crazy circumcising scheme in africa

DAILEYericCaryUSA (1 month ago) Show Hide

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0:50, What is the "pro circumcision lobby"?

freedom0f5peech (1 month ago) Show Hide

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@DAILEYericCaryUSA

The pro-circumcision lobby is a "relatively small" but loud group of individuals that are working to increase the frequency of circumcision.

They consist mostly (almost entirely, but with some exceptions) of circumcised American men (a good deal of which are Jewish, far greater than the world-wide percentage).

freedom0f5peech (1 month ago) Show Hide

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@DAILEYericCaryUSA

They are, for one reason or another, afraid that circumcision is becoming less common, and see it as a threat to their religious and/or cultural ideals.

Unfortunately, some of these people reside in the American medical community (though most of the medical community doesn't have an agenda on this topic, those who do are vocal and persistent).

I hope that helps.

ironwolfosiris (1 month ago) Show Hide

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I mean Dean Edell. :P

ironwolfosiris (1 month ago) Show Hide

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This Dr. Dean Elin is soooo correct. We need more rational thinking people who say the truth.

FreeDogdylan (1 month ago) Show Hide

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So true, so true. Dean Edell is fucking great! All power to that guy!

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AIDS CIRCUMCISION FALLACY

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