Dominic Stone
The penis is not a muscle, but it does contain a series of muscles around blood vessels that are involved with producing an erection. Nicknames like boner and love muscle are misleading. The erect penis contains neither bones nor major muscles. Instead, it is made up of a mix of tissues, glands, and muscle fibres that work together to create an erection. The penis is a collection of blood vessels, vascular structures, connective tissue, and nerves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is the penis a muscle? | No, it is not a muscle but contains a series of muscles around blood vessels that are involved with producing an erection. |
| Is the penis a bone? | No, there are no bones in the penis. |
| What is the penis made of? | The penis is made up of a mix of tissues, glands, and muscle fibers that work together to create an erection. It is also made up of blood vessels, vascular structures, and nerves. |
| What is the root of the penis? | The root of the penis is the most proximal, fixed part of the penis located in the superficial perineal pouch of the pelvic floor. It is not visible externally. |
| What is the body of the penis? | The body of the penis is the free part located between the root and glans. It is composed of three cylinders of erectile tissue – two corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum. |
| What is the glans of the penis? | The glans is the most distal part of the penis and is conical in shape. It contains the opening of the urethra, termed the external urethral orifice. |
| What is the average penis size? | Research shows that a person's perception of penis size is often skewed, with many overestimating the "normal" or average size. The average change in length between a flaccid and erect penis is only 1.5 inches. |
| Can the penis be broken? | Yes, there is an injury called penile fracture that occurs when an erect penis is bent to the point of breaking. |
| Does the penis lose sensitivity with age? | Yes, studies show that the penis loses sensitivity as men age, with the sharpest decline occurring between ages 65 and 75. |
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What You'll Learn
The penis is not a muscle
Despite the popular nicknames boner and "love muscle", the penis is not a muscle. It is a complex assortment of glands, specialised tissues, and some muscle fibres that help with erectile function. The penis is made up of three cylinders covered in a sheath called the buck fascia. These cylinders include the corpus spongiosum and two corpora cavernosa, known as the corpus cavernosum penis. The corpus cavernosum contains spongy tissue and arteries that run along the middle of each.
The penis is part of the male reproductive system, which includes the muscles of the perineal area and pelvic floor, the crura, and the suspensory ligament. These internal structures assist in urinary and sexual function. The penis itself does not contain any major muscles, but it does have a series of smooth muscles (not under voluntary control) that help to develop an erection properly. These muscles work together with the elastic tissues and fibres to help an erection stay hard and stiff.
The ischiocavernosus muscles, bulbospongiosus muscle, and the smooth muscle tissue within the penis all work together to make the erection hard and steady its erect direction for sexual penetration. During an erection, the arteries (which contain smooth muscle in their walls) relax to help move blood into the penis, while the smooth muscles located in the veins relax to collect more blood within the penis. This increase in blood is what causes the penis to stiffen and become erect.
While the penis is not a muscle, it does rely on muscles internally and externally to function. These include the muscles nearby that make movement possible, such as the pubococcygeal (PC) muscles, which can be strengthened through Kegel exercises.
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It's made of spongy tissue and glands
The penis is not a muscle, but it does contain some muscle fibres that help with erectile function. The penis is made up of a mix of tissues, glands and muscle fibres that work together to create an erection.
The penis is composed of three erectile columns: the two corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum. The corpora cavernosa are two expandable, erectile tissues that run along the length of the penis and fill with blood during an erection. The corpus spongiosum is a smaller region of erectile tissue that runs along the bottom of the penis and contains the urethra. The corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum are made of spongy, sponge-like tissue. The tunica albuginea is a fibrous tissue that protects the spongy tissue.
The penis also contains the ischiocavernosus muscles, bulbospongiosus muscle and the smooth muscle tissue, which work together to make an erection hard and steady. The smooth muscle fibres around the blood vessels within the penis help to manage the blood that makes up erections. The muscles around the corpus cavernosum relax, allowing blood to flow into its open spaces and causing the penis to swell and stiffen.
The penis is part of the male reproductive system and is used for reproduction and urination.
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It contains some muscle fibres
While the penis is not a muscle, it does contain some muscle fibres. The penis is part of the male reproductive system and is made up of a mix of tissues, glands, and muscle fibres that work together to create an erection. The penis is a collection of blood vessels, vascular structures, connective tissue, and nerves. The majority of the penis's structure is designed to collect and capture blood, inflate, and become firm enough for penetrative sexual intercourse.
The penis contains a series of muscles around blood vessels that are involved with producing an erection. There are no bones in the penis, but instead, there is a series of elastic tissues and fibres that help an erection stay hard and stiff. The ischiocavernosus muscles, bulbospongiosus muscle, and the smooth muscle tissue within the penis itself all work together to make the erection hard and steady its erect direction for sexual penetration.
During an erection, the arteries (which contain smooth muscle in their walls) relax to help move blood into the penis, while the smooth muscles located in the veins relax to collect more blood within the penis. This action partially restricts blood flow moving out of the penis, increasing the blood in the penis, which causes the stiffened nature of the penis referred to as an erection. The penis can also appear to pull into the body in cold temperatures or with sympathetic nerve activity. This "shrinkage" is due to the contractions of the muscles inside the penis around the blood vessels.
The root of the penis contains two ischiocavernosus muscles and two bulbospongiosus muscles. The ischiocavernosus muscles surround the left and right crura of the penis and help maintain erections by forcing blood from the cavernous spaces in the crura into the corpora cavernosa. The bulbospongiosus muscles are associated with the bulb of the penis and contract to empty the spongy urethra of any residual semen and urine. The anterior fibres of the bulbospongiosus muscles also aid in maintaining erections by increasing the pressure in the bulb of the penis.
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Muscles are needed for erections
While the penis is not a muscle, it does contain some muscle fibres and is surrounded by muscles that are essential for achieving and maintaining an erection. The penis consists of three cylindrical chambers: the paired corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum. The corpora cavernosa are contained within a bilayered, collagenous sheath called the tunica albuginea. The tunica albuginea helps sustain erections by restricting venous outflow and compressing the emissary veins that drain the sinusoids. The corpora cavernosa start proximally as two separate crura covered by the ischiocavernosus muscle. The ischiocavernosus muscle contracts during an erection, forcing blood from the cavernous space in the crura to the corpora cavernosa, providing additional rigidity. The ischiocavernosus muscle is innervated by the pudendal nerve, which is responsible for the contraction of the muscle during the rigid erection phase and ejaculation.
The penis is made up of a mix of tissues, glands, and muscle fibres that work together to achieve an erection. The corpus cavernosum contains spongy tissue and arteries that run along its middle. When the muscles around the corpus cavernosum relax, blood flows into its open spaces, causing the penis to swell and stiffen. The penis is a collection of blood vessels, vascular structures, connective tissue, and nerves. The majority of the penis's structure is designed to collect and capture blood, inflate, and become firm enough for penetrative sexual intercourse.
The smooth muscle tissue within the penis, along with the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles, work together to make the erection hard and steady. During an erection, the arteries, which contain smooth muscle in their walls, relax to allow blood to flow into the penis. Simultaneously, the smooth muscles in the veins relax to collect and retain more blood within the penis, leading to engorgement and an increase in the penis's size and stiffness. These muscles are also responsible for sealing off the blood, maintaining the erect state, and forcing semen out of the urethral opening during ejaculation.
While the penis itself does not contain any major muscles, the muscles surrounding it and the few muscle fibres within it are crucial for achieving and sustaining an erection. These muscles contract and relax to regulate blood flow, ensuring the penis becomes and remains firm enough for sexual penetration.
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Penis size doesn't determine erection size
The penis is not a muscle, but it does contain a few muscle fibres that help with erectile function. The size of a flaccid penis is not a good indicator of its erect size. "Showers" are people whose penises are about the same length when flaccid or erect, while "growers" are people whose penises get notably longer when erect. The average change in length between showers and growers is only an inch and a half.
Research shows that a person's perception of penis size is often skewed, with many overestimating what the "normal" or average penis size is. The average erect penis length may have increased worldwide in the past few decades, possibly due to people reaching puberty earlier, increased body size, and exposure to hormone-disrupting substances. However, the size of a flaccid penis does not necessarily correspond to the length of the erect penis. Some smaller flaccid penises grow much longer, while some larger flaccid penises grow comparatively less.
Confidence plays a bigger role in satisfaction in and out of the bedroom than the size of the penis. Worrying about having a smaller-than-average penis can drain your confidence and affect your ability to enjoy sex. Furthermore, stress and anxiety can make it more difficult to get an erection or climax.
There are several penis-enlargement methods and products that claim to increase penis size, but studies of penile enlargement surgeries show mixed results in their effectiveness, safety, and patient satisfaction. Surgeries like penoplasty can at best add a little length to a flaccid penis or slightly increase its girth, but they do not change the length of an erect penis.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the penis is not a muscle, but it does contain a series of muscles around blood vessels that are involved with producing an erection.
The penis is made up of a mix of tissues, glands, and muscle fibers that work together to create an erection.
No, there are no bones in the penis. It is made up of elastic tissues and fibers that help an erection stay hard and stiff.
The ischiocavernosus muscles, bulbospongiosus muscle, and the smooth muscle tissue within the penis all work together to make an erection hard and steady.
No, there are no exercises or weight training techniques that can create an erection or make the penis bigger.
