The penis
Penis · penis
The male organ that carries urine and semen out of the body.
What it does
The penis contains three columns of spongy tissue. During arousal, arteries widen and these spaces fill with blood, while outflow is restricted, making it firm. The urethra runs through its lower column and opens at the tip.
Surprising fact
An erection is a blood-vessel event, so problems with erections can be an early warning sign of heart and blood vessel disease.
Why it matters
Erectile difficulties are common and treatable, and they are worth mentioning to a doctor because they can point to wider health issues such as diabetes or narrowed arteries.
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Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.