Although many people with a penis are relatively familiar with its antics, there's more to this appendage than meets the middle. In this feature, we discuss 10 interesting details virtually the penis that you probably didn't know.

Statue of Neptune Share on Pinterest
In this feature, nosotros explore some intriguing facts most the penis. Davide Zanin/EyeEm/Getty Images

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

The penis is ancient. Merely in case you were wondering, the oldest known penis dates dorsum 425 1000000 years, and its fossilized remains belong to an arthropod dubbed Colymbosathon ecplecticos, which means "amazing swimmer with a big penis" in Greek.

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

Equally the author Mokokoma Mokhonoana once wrote, "Fifty-fifty the world's greatest actor cannot fake an erection." This leads us to the showtime penis fact of the day.

Penises are born prepare, and it is common for babies to exit the womb with an erection. Even before the moment of nascency, ultrasound scans sometimes bear witness 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 ane is quite certain why, only information technology might be the body's way of testing things out and keeping them running correctly.

A lot of people might take solace in this fact: Penises are longer than they wait. In fact, around half of the entire length is housed within the torso.

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

Equally we show in the diagram above, the mass of pink erectile tissue — which comprises the so grandly named "corpus cavernosum" and "corpus spongiosum" — extends well into the pelvic region, forming a sort of boomerang shape.

Let'due south lay this one to rest, shall we? Every bit a 2002 report published in the journal BJU International confirms, there is no correlation between shoe size and penis length.

Although an older study, published in 1993, found that penile length was related to both meridian and foot length, information technology was a weak human relationship, and the authors concluded, "Height and foot size would not serve as 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, meridian, and index finger length," but not foot size.

Well-nigh people with penises have 3–five erections every dark, generally during REM sleep. This is also called "nocturnal penile tumescence," and it's all the same not clear why information technology happens.

Ane theory is that it might help prevent bed wetting: An erection inhibits urination.

A full float is known to stimulate nerves in a similar region to those involved in erections. However, because people with vaginas feel something similar — nocturnal clitoral tumescence — bed wetting prevention is probably not the unabridged respond.

Another potential explanation is that REM sleep 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.

Whatsoever the reason backside nocturnal erections, they can exist useful as a diagnostic tool. If it is difficult to have or maintain an erection while awake, but not during sleep, this can point to an underlying psychological cause, rather than a physical 1.

So, we've established that erections can occur in the womb and during sleep, but what is perhaps even more than surprising is: the death erection. Too called "angel lust" or a terminal erection, it happens in the moments subsequently death.

Most commonly, it occurs in people who take died from hanging; scientists believe that it may be due to pressure from the noose on the cerebellum.

However, it has also been reported following death by a gunshot wound to the head, harm to major claret vessels, and poisoning.

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

There is no bone in the penis, which is fairly unusual for mammals. However, it is notwithstanding possible to break the penis. This well-nigh commonly occurs during vigorous sex, although doctors accept as well documented it in people who accept fallen out of bed with an erection.

Penile fracture, equally it is known, is actually the rupture of the fibrous covering of the corpora cavernosa, which is the tissue that becomes erect when engorged with blood.

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

Thankfully, it doesn't happen very oftentimes, and if it is treated swiftly, this tin restore full function. As a annotation of circumspection, if this happens to you, practice not let embarrassment become the better of you. Encounter a dr. as soon as possible.

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

Nigh people with penises accept very picayune control over exactly when they ejaculate. This is partly because it does not involve the encephalon. The point to ejaculate comes from the spinal ejaculation generator. This region in the spinal string coordinates the necessary functions.

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

A penile erection can signal in virtually any direction. Straight alee, left or right, up or down, there'due south no correct or wrong.

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

In the figures below, if the penis pointed directly upward, the measurement was 0 degrees, and if it was forward-pointing (horizontal), the measurement was 90 degrees:

  • 0–30 degrees: 4.9% of participants
  • thirty–threescore degrees: 29.6% of participants
  • 60–85 degrees: 30.9% of participants
  • 85–95 degrees: 9.9% of participants
  • 95–120 degrees: nineteen.8% of participants
  • 120–180 degrees 4.ix% of participants

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

While nosotros are on the topic of "normality," very few penises are straight; they tin can curve in any management. A curve of up to 30 degrees is all the same considered healthy.

A study that included 274 participants demonstrated that in that location is no correlation between the length of a flaccid penis and its erect size. Some outset pocket-sized and stop upwards large (a grower), while some are large when flaccid and only grow a little when erect (a show-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 concur much relevance outside of the locker room, but it's good 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 patently foods would lead Americans away from the "sin" of masturbation.

Thankfully, nowadays, food manufacturers spend less time trying to convince the youth to surrender masturbation. And merely in instance there was any doubt, it doesn't make you become blind, either.

If this listing has tickled your fancy, your next move might be to plan a trip to Republic of 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'south penis as a boy.

According to Hjartarson: "Collecting penises is similar collecting annihilation. You can never stop, y'all can never take hold of upward, y'all can always get a new one, a better one."

Or, if you want to go ane step further, you can visit the Guolizhuang Restaurant, in Beijing, which specializes in penis and testicle dishes. It's upwardly to you.