View source for Glans

{{Short description|Anatomical structure in mammals}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{for|the clam genus|Carditidae}}

The '''glans''' ({{IPAc-en|g|l|æ|n|z}},<ref>''[[OED]]'' 2nd edition, 1989.</ref><ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glans Entry "glans"] in ''[http://www.merriam-webster.com/ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary]''.</ref> {{plural form}}: '''glandes''' {{IPAc-en|'|g|l|æ|n|d|i:|z}}; [[etymology|from]] the [[Latin]] word for "[[acorn]]")<ref name=MW>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glans "glans" at merriam-webster.com]</ref> is a [[Blood vessel|vascular]] structure located at the tip of the [[penis]] in male [[mammal]]s or a [[List of homologues of the human reproductive system|homologous genital structure]] of the [[clitoris]] in female mammals.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drake |first=Richard Lee |title=Gray's Anatomy for Students |last2=Vogl |first2=Wayne |last3=Mitchell |first3=Adam William Michael |last4=Gray |first4=Henry |date={{date|2015-11-15|DMY}} |publisher=[[Churchill Livingstone]]; [[Elsevier]] |isbn=978-0-7020-5131-9 |edition=3rd |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |publication-date=2015 |page=506 |language=en-US |oclc=881508489 |ol=28520901M}}</ref>

==Structure==
{{Multiple images
| image2            = Glans Penis of A Human.jpg
| alt2              = Human male glans penis
| caption2          = Typical human male [[glans penis]], at the end of the penis, showing the [[urinary meatus]] at its tip
| image1            = Glans clitoris.jpg
| alt1              = Human female glans clitoris
| caption1          = Typical human female [[glans clitoridis]], a pea-sized structure between the [[clitoral hood]] and the [[urinary meatus]]
| direction         = vertical
}}

The exterior structure of the glans consists of [[mucous membrane]], which is usually covered by [[foreskin]] or [[clitoral hood]] in naturally developed [[genitalia]]. This covering, called the prepuce, is normally retractable in adulthood unless removed by [[circumcision]].

The glans naturally joins with the [[frenulum]] of the [[Human penis|penis]] or [[clitoris]], as well as the inner [[Labia (genitalia)|labia]] in women, and the foreskin in men. In non-technical or sexual discussions, often the word "clitoris" refers to the external glans alone, excluding the [[clitoral hood]], [[Clitoris#Frenulum|frenulum]], and internal body of the clitoris.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Puppo |first=Vincenzo |date=2011 |title=Anatomy of the Clitoris: Revision and Clarifications about the Anatomical Terms for the Clitoris Proposed (without Scientific Bases) by Helen O'Connell, Emmanuele Jannini, and Odile Buisson |journal=ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology |language=en |volume=2011 |article-number=261464 |doi=10.5402/2011/261464 |issn=2090-4436 |pmc=3175415 |pmid=21941661 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Similarly, phrases "tip" or "head" of the penis refers to the glans alone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are the parts of the male sexual anatomy? |url=https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/sexual-and-reproductive-anatomy/what-are-parts-male-sexual-anatomy |website=Planned Parenthood}}</ref>

==Sex differences in humans==
In males, the glans is known as the [[glans penis]], while in females the glans is known as the [[Clitoris#Glans|clitoral glans]].

In females, the clitoris is above the urethra. The glans of the clitoris is the most highly innervated part of the external female genitalia.<ref name="Carroll_Di Marino">
{{harvnb|Carroll|2012|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=RY0n2CGS5EcC&pg=PT154 110–111],
[https://books.google.com/books?id=RY0n2CGS5EcC&pg=PT296 252]}};
{{harvnb|Di Marino|2014|p=81}}
</ref>

=={{visible anchor|Sex differences in other mammals|In other mammals}}==
In spotted hyenas, the female's [[pseudo-penis]] can be distinguished from the male's penis by its greater thickness and more rounded glans.<ref name="differentiation">Glickman SE, Cunha GR, Drea CM, Conley AJ and Place NJ. (2006). ''[http://courses.washington.edu/pbio509/Glickman_etal.pdf Mammalian sexual differentiation: lessons from the spotted hyena]''. Trends Endocrinol Metab 17:349–356.</ref><ref name="MillsMills1998">{{cite book|author1=M. G. L. Mills|author2=Gus Mills|author3=Heribert Hofer|title=Hyaenas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aO2gTeLBLZYC&q=spotted+hyena+glans&pg=PA31|access-date=27 January 2013|year=1998|publisher=IUCN|isbn=978-2-8317-0442-5|pages=31–}}</ref><ref name="Theis2008">{{cite book|author=Kevin Robert Theis|title=Scent Marking in a Highly Social Mammalian Species, the Spotted Hyena, Crocuta Crocuta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n987VgJs3CoC&q=spotted+hyena+glans&pg=PA25|access-date=27 January 2013|year=2008|isbn=978-1-109-03595-7|pages=25–|publisher=Michigan State University. Zoology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Truth About Hyaenas: debunking hyaena myths |url=http://www.hyaenidae.org/hyena-myths.html |access-date={{date|2014-05-02|DMY}} |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415002728/http://www.hyaenidae.org/hyena-myths.html |archive-date=15 April 2013 }}</ref> In both male and female spotted hyenas, the base of the glans is covered with [[penile spines]].<ref name="Ewer1973">{{cite book|author=R. F. Ewer|title=The Carnivores|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IETMd3-lSlkC&q=crocuta+spines|access-date=9 January 2013|year=1973|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=978-0-8014-8493-3}}</ref><ref name="Estes1991">{{cite book|author=Richard Estes|title=The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_0520080858|url-access=registration|quote=glans spines.|access-date=9 January 2013|year=1991|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-08085-0}}</ref><ref name="Blackledge2003">{{cite book|author=Catherine Blackledge|title=The Story of V: A Natural History of Female Sexuality|url=https://archive.org/details/storyofv00cath|url-access=registration|quote=glans spines hyena.|access-date=9 January 2013|year=2003|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=978-0-8135-3455-8}}</ref>

==Development==
In the [[development of the urinary and reproductive organs]], the glans is derived from the [[genital tubercle]].

==See also==
*[[Glanuloplasty]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Janell L. |title=Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity |publisher=Cengage Learning |year=2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RY0n2CGS5EcC&pg=PP1 |isbn=978-1-111-83581-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Di Marino |first=Vincent |title=Anatomic Study of the Clitoris and the Bulbo-Clitoral Organ |publisher=Springer |year=2014 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wKMpBAAAQBAJ&q=gbs_navlinks_s |isbn=978-3-319-04894-9}}

[[Category:Sexual anatomy]]
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