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May 24, 2012
Table of Contents

1 Introduction
[F] Gynecology / Sexual anatomy /
ridged band

Wikipedia

  

The ridged band is part of the foreskin. John R. Taylor, a Canada|Canadian pathologist, medical researcher and genital integrity|anti-circumcision (Genital Integrity) proponent, first described the ridged band at the Second International Symposium on Circumcision, organised by http://www.nocirc.org NOCIRC in San Francisco, 1991. He and others followed this up with an http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor/ article describing an anatomical and histological study of the human foreskin in the British Journal of Urology supplement in 1996, using the name, the ridged band. The ridged band contains Meissner's corpuscle|Meissner's corpuscles which are fine-touch receptors. Taylor's work built upon earlier work, including that of R. K. Winkelmann, a dermatologist who in 1959 discussed the structure of the foreskin and other mucocutaneous zones.http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/winkelmann/.



Structure



Winkelmann (1959) suggested that the boundary between the outer skin of the penis and the inner mucosa (the mucocutaneous boundary) is a specific erogenous zone http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/winkelmann/. Taylor described a band of highly innervated and vascularised tissue (biology)|tissue located just inside the tip of the foreskin near this mucocutaneous boundary. This band of tissue, which he called the ridged band, contains nerve endings called Meissner's corpuscles These nerve endings are arranged at the crest of rete ridges and, like the nipples and the soles of the feet, are sensitive to light touch and specifically stroking and fluttering sensations.

Viens, writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics (2004) criticised Taylor's study, including the "extremely small sample size" of cadavers. http://jme.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/30/3/241-a

Circumcision, by removing the foreskin, removes most or all of the ridged band. http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor/

Function



Winkelmann (1959) wrote:

The specific type of erogenous zone found is found in the mucocutaneous regions of the body. Such specific sites of acute sensation in the body are the genital regions, including the prepuce, penis, clitoris and external vulva of the female and perianal skin, lip, nipple and conjunctiva. It is the special anatomy of these regions that require the term "specific" when one speaks of erotic sensations originating in the skin. This anatomy favors acute perception. The rete ridges of the epithelium are well formed and more of the organized nerve tissue rises higher in the dermis than is true of haired skin. http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/winkelmann/


Taylor et al. (1996) wrote:

We postulate that the `ridged band' with its unique structure, tactile corpuscles and other nerves, is primarily sensory tissue and that it cooperates with other components of the prepuce. In this model, the `smooth' mucosa and true skin of the adult prepuce act together to allow the `ridged band' to move from a forward to a `deployed' position on the shaft of the penis. In short, the prepuce should be considered a structural and functional unit made up of more and less specialized parts http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor/.


Taylor inferred from its innervation that the ridged band has a sexual functionhttp://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor2/ http://www.cfpc.ca/cfp/2003/Dec/vol49-dec-letters-4.asp. He argued that the ridged band is designed to be stimulated through movement during sexual intercourse http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor2/.

However, Viens (2004) commented:

"Not only is a pathological study not ideal for conclusions concerning the physical sensation and enjoyment of sex in the living, we have no findings that show that sensation transmission pathways of the penis differ substantially between circumcised and uncircumcised men. As it presently stands, there is no convincing evidence that shows that sexual function of circumcised individuals is worsened or damaged as a result of a properly performed circumcision."


Studies of the relationship between circumcision and sexual function have had mixed findings. Some have shown harm from circumcision, while others have shown mixed results, no difference, or a beneficial effect. For an overview, including links to the studies concerned, see Sexual effects of circumcision.

Terminology



The ridged band is sometimes referred to as the frenar band because of the way the muscle sheath at the tip of the foreskin is connected to the frenum. This muscle sheath helps to contract the tip of the foreskin so that it remains positioned over the glans.

See also



  • Erogenous zone

  • Foreskin

  • Gliding action

  • Male circumcision

  • Medical analysis of circumcision

  • Mucocutaneous boundary

External links



  • Winkelmann RK. The erogenous zones: their nerve supply and significance. Mayo Clin Proc 1959;34(2):39-47. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/winkelmann/


  • Taylor JR, Lockwood AP, Taylor AJ. The prepuce: specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision. Br J Urol 1996;77:291-295. URL: http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/taylor/


  • The Ridged Band: Specialized Sexual Tissue URL: http://research.cirp.org/ (Dr John R. Taylor responsible for site content)

Illustrations



  • Dr John Taylor's illustrations http://research.cirp.org/pix1.html


  • Your Anatomyhttp://www.infocirc.org/townsend/anatomy2.htm Site illustrating the ridged band


  • Ridged band and frenulumhttp://www.sexdictionary.info/ridged%20ban_frenulum.html SexDictionary.info

References



  • Kristen O'Hara with Jeffrey O'Hara. Sex as Nature Intended It. Hudson, Massachusetts: Turning Point Publications, 2001: pp. 139, 148-49. (ISBN 0-9700442-0-8)


  • Paul Fleiss, M.D. and Frederick Hodges, D. Phil. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Circumcision. New York: Warner Books, 2002: pp. 7-8, 13, 14. (ISBN 0-446-67880-5)




Category:Pelvis
Category:Reproductive system
Category:Circumcision debate

Copyright & Resource Links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "ridged band".


Last Modified:   2005-12-19


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