Although many people with a penis are relatively familiar with its antics, in that location'southward more to this appendage than meets the centre. In this characteristic, nosotros discuss ten interesting details well-nigh the penis that y'all probably didn't know.

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In this feature, we explore some intriguing facts about the penis. Davide Zanin/EyeEm/Getty Images

When you consider the penis as an evolutionary adaptation, it has done remarkably well.

The penis is ancient. But in case y'all were wondering, the oldest known penis dates back 425 1000000 years, and its fossilized remains belong to an arthropod dubbed Colymbosathon ecplecticos, which means "astonishing swimmer with a big penis" in Greek.

Anyone surprised past how easily the penis is "activated" might reflect on its role in our species' survival. As far as reproduction is concerned, a false arousal is better than a missed opportunity.

As the author Mokokoma Mokhonoana once wrote, "Even the world'southward greatest actor cannot fake an erection." This leads us to the kickoff penis fact of the 24-hour interval.

Penises are born ready, and it is common for babies to exit the womb with an erection. Even before the moment of birth, ultrasound scans sometimes evidence a fetus with a fully formed erection.

According to a study from 1991, fetal erections most commonly occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. And they can happen a number of times each hour. No one is quite certain why, but it might be the body's way of testing things out and keeping them running correctly.

A lot of people might accept solace in this fact: Penises are longer than they look. In fact, around one-half of the entire length is housed inside the body.

You might be thinking, "Well, information technology's no good to me upwardly there," but information technology needs to remain continued to the residual of the anatomy, and so it'south probably best that it stays put.

Every bit we bear witness in the diagram to a higher place, the mass of pinkish erectile tissue — which comprises the then grandly named "corpus cavernosum" and "corpus spongiosum" — extends well into the pelvic region, forming a sort of boomerang shape.

Let's lay this one to rest, shall we? Every bit a 2002 report published in the journal BJU International confirms, at that place is no correlation betwixt shoe size and penis length.

Although an older study, published in 1993, constitute that penile length was related to both height and human foot length, information technology was a weak relationship, and the authors concluded, "Height and foot size would not serve every bit practical estimators of penis length."

A 2006 study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research looked at other correlations. The researchers concluded that "Penile dimensions are significantly correlated with age, height, and index finger length," just not foot size.

Nigh people with penises have iii–5 erections every night, mostly during REM slumber. This is also called "nocturnal penile tumescence," and information technology's however not clear why it happens.

Ane theory is that information technology might assist forestall bed wetting: An erection inhibits urination.

A total float is known to stimulate nerves in a similar region to those involved in erections. However, considering people with vaginas experience something like — nocturnal clitoral tumescence — bed wetting prevention is probably non the entire answer.

Another potential explanation is that REM slumber is linked with switching off cells that produce noradrenaline in the locus coeruleus, which is in the brainstem. These cells inhibit the tone of the penis. So, by reducing the inhibition, the penis becomes erect.

Whatever the reason backside nocturnal erections, they can be useful every bit a diagnostic tool. If it is difficult to have or maintain an erection while awake, simply non during sleep, this tin signal to an underlying psychological cause, rather than a physical one.

So, we've established that erections can occur in the womb and during sleep, just what is perhaps even more surprising is: the death erection. Also called "affections lust" or a final erection, it happens in the moments after death.

Near commonly, information technology occurs in people who take died from hanging; scientists believe that it may be due to force per unit area from the noose on the cerebellum.

Withal, it has likewise been reported following death by a gunshot wound to the head, impairment to major blood vessels, and poisoning.

Another theory is that the erection is acquired by "the brutal destruction of the cervical spinal cord."

There is no os in the penis, which is fairly unusual for mammals. Even so, it is still possible to break the penis. This almost commonly occurs during vigorous sexual activity, although doctors accept also documented it in people who have fallen out of bed with an erection.

Penile fracture, as information technology is known, is really the rupture of the fibrous roofing of the corpora cavernosa, which is the tissue that becomes cock when engorged with blood.

The moment of fracture is accompanied past a popping or cracking sound, intense pain, swelling, and — unsurprisingly — flaccidity.

Thankfully, it doesn't happen very frequently, and if it is treated swiftly, this can restore full function. As a note of circumspection, if this happens to y'all, practice non let embarrassment get the better of you lot. Meet a doctor as shortly as possible.

In a study that analyzed 42 cases of penile fracture, the authors described the most "dangerous" position equally "adult female on superlative."

Most people with penises have very little command over exactly when they ejaculate. This is partly because it does not involve the brain. The bespeak to ejaculate comes from the spinal ejaculation generator. This region in the spinal cord coordinates the necessary functions.

Of course, the encephalon does have some input into these matters — thinking about something else is a well-known fashion to delay the event, for example — but the nuts and bolts of the whole operation are dealt with in the spine.

A penile erection can bespeak in virtually any management. Direct ahead, left or correct, up or down, there's no right or wrong.

The following data come from a study that measured 1,484 erections.

In the figures beneath, if the penis pointed directly up, the measurement was 0 degrees, and if information technology was forward-pointing (horizontal), the measurement was 90 degrees:

  • 0–30 degrees: 4.9% of participants
  • thirty–60 degrees: 29.6% of participants
  • lx–85 degrees: 30.9% of participants
  • 85–95 degrees: 9.9% of participants
  • 95–120 degrees: 19.8% of participants
  • 120–180 degrees 4.nine% of participants

So, for anyone concerned that their chap is a bit skewed, do not worry — you are normal.

While we are on the topic of "normality," very few penises are direct; they tin can curve in any direction. A curve of up to xxx degrees is nevertheless considered salubrious.

A study that included 274 participants demonstrated that there is no correlation between the length of a flaccid penis and its erect size. Some start small and stop upwards large (a grower), while some are big when flaccid and but abound a little when erect (a testify-er).

Some are small regardless of arousal, and some are large when flaccid and get much larger. It's a mixed bag.

This may not agree much relevance outside of the locker room, but information technology's proficient to know anyway.

They don't, really. However, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the breakfast cereal mastermind, hoped that they would. He invented cornflakes and other products because he thought that evidently foods would lead Americans away from the "sin" of masturbation.

Thankfully, nowadays, nutrient manufacturers spend less time trying to convince the youth to surrender masturbation. And only in case in that location was any doubt, it doesn't make you become blind, either.

If this listing has tickled your fancy, your side by side movement might exist to plan a trip to Iceland and visit the Icelandic Phallological Museum, which is dedicated to all things penile. The museum was started up by Sigurður Hjartarson, whose interest began when he was given a bull's penis as a male child.

According to Hjartarson: "Collecting penises is like collecting anything. You can never stop, you can never catch up, you can always get a new one, a ameliorate one."

Or, if you lot want to go i footstep further, y'all can visit the Guolizhuang Restaurant, in Beijing, which specializes in penis and testicle dishes. It's up to you.