Innervation of the human glans penis.

PURPOSE: We demonstrate the innervation of the glans penis through nerve blockade and electrophysiological tests.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 14 healthy, sexually potent volunteers. The dorsal nerves of the penis were anesthetized bilaterally with lidocaine. Electrophysiological testing was performed by stimulating the dorsal nerve of the penis at the penile base distal to the block and recording action potentials at the glans.

RESULTS: Dorsal nerve of the penis block resulted in anesthesia of the dorsal, lateral and glanular aspects of the penis. The ventral surface, including the frenulum, was intact to pinprick sensation. Dorsal nerve of the penis stimulation resulted in responses from the corona, dorsal and ventral mid glans, and penile shaft. Frenular responses were less consistently obtained. The most common recorded pattern was a monophasic waveform representing the arrival of a standing potential at a nerve terminal. Latencies were progressively longer with increasing distance from the point of stimulation with the longest latencies measured at the frenulum. Amplitudes of the responses decreased with increasing distance from the point of stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS: The dorsal nerve of the penis innervates the glans, including the frenulum which is also innervated by a branch of the perineal nerve. Branches of the dorsal nerve of the penis extend through the glans ventrolaterally. Electrical representation of glanular innervation reveals the glans to be filled with nerve endings supporting its function as a sensory structure.