Smegma

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Secretion of mammalian genitals

title: "Smegma" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["excretion", "exocrine-system", "mammal-female-reproductive-system", "mammal-male-reproductive-system"] description: "Secretion of mammalian genitals" topic_path: "general/excretion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smegma" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Secretion of mammalian genitals ::

Smegma (from Ancient Greek ) is a cheesy substance composed of shed skin cells, skin oils, and moisture that occurs in male and female mammalian genitalia. In males, smegma collects under the foreskin; in females, it collects around the clitoris and in the folds of the labia minora.

Females

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Female_Smegma.jpg" caption="Human [[vulva]] with visible smegma between the labia"] ::

The accumulation of sebum combined with dead skin cells forms smegma. Smegma clitoridis is defined as the secretion of the apocrine (sweat) and sebaceous (sebum) glands of the clitoris in combination with desquamating epithelial cells. |title=Medical Dictionary |url=http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=82565 |publisher=Medilexicon

If smegma is not removed frequently it can lead to clitoral adhesion which can make clitoral stimulation (such as masturbation) painful (clitorodynia).

Males

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Smegma_Penis02.mirrored.jpg" caption="[[Human penis]] with visible smegma behind the glans"] ::

In males, smegma helps keep the glans moist and facilitates sexual intercourse by acting as a lubricant. |last=Wright |first=J. |date=September 1970 |title=How smegma serves the penis: Nature's assurance that the uncircumcised glans penis will function smoothly is provided by smegma |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/wright1/ |journal=Sexology |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=50–53 |name-list-style=vanc |last1=Van Howe |first1=R. S. |last2=Hodges |first2=F. M. |date=October 2006 |title=The carcinogenicity of smegma: debunking a myth |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/cancer/vanhowe2006 |journal=Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology |volume=20 |issue=9 |pages=1046–1054 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01653.x |pmid=16987256 |s2cid=22840346 |name-list-style=vanc |url-access=subscription |last1=Fleiss |first1=P. M. |last2=Hodges |first2=F. M. |last3=Van Howe |first3=R. S. |date=October 1998 |title=Immunological functions of the human prepuce |journal=Sexually Transmitted Infections |volume=74 |issue=5 |pages=364–367 |doi=10.1136/sti.74.5.364 |pmc=1758142 |pmid=10195034 |name-list-style=vanc

Smegma was originally thought to be produced by sebaceous glands near the frenulum called Tyson's glands; however, subsequent studies have failed to find these glands. |last1=Parkash |first1=Satya |last2=Jeyakumar |first2=S. |last3=Subramanyan |first3=K. |last4=Chaudhuri |first4=S. |date=August 1973 |title=Human subpreputial collection: its nature and formation |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/parkash/ |journal=Journal of Urology |volume=110 |issue=2 |pages=211–212 |doi=10.1016/s0022-5347(17)60164-2 |pmid=4722614 |name-list-style=vanc |url-access=subscription

Newly produced smegma has a smooth, moist texture. It is thought to be rich in squalene |last1=O'Neill |first1=H. J. |last2=Gershbein |first2=L. L. |year=1976 |title=Lipids of human and equine smegma |journal=Oncology |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=161–166 |doi=10.1159/000225134 |pmid=1018879 |name-list-style=vanc |last1=Frohlich |first1=E. |last2=Schaumburg-Lever |first2=G. |last3=Klessen |first3=C. |date=1993 |title=Immunelectron microscopic localization of cathepsin B in human exocrine glands |journal=Journal of Cutaneous Pathology |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=54–60 |doi=10.1111/j.1600-0560.1993.tb01250.x |pmid=8468418 |s2cid=1326013 |name-list-style=vanc |last1=Chukwuemeka Anyanwu |first1=Lofty-John |last2=Kashibu |first2=Emmanuel |last3=Edwin |first3=Chinagozi Precious |last4=Mohammad |first4=Aminu Mohammad |year=2012 |title=Microbiology of smegma in boys in Kano, Nigeria |journal=Journal of Surgical Research |volume=173 |issue=1 |pages=21–25 |doi=10.1016/j.jss.2011.04.057 |pmid=21872267 |name-list-style=vanc

According to Wright, the production of smegma, which is low in childhood, increases from adolescence until sexual maturity when the function of smegma for lubrication assumes its full value. From middle-age, production starts to decline and in old age virtually no smegma is produced. Jakob Øster reported that the incidence of smegma increased from 1% among 6- to 9-year-olds to 8% among 14- to 17-year-olds (amongst those who did not present with phimosis and could be examined).

Smegma can cause irritation and inflammation in males, which can increase the risk of penile cancer.

Other animals

In healthy animals, smegma helps clean and lubricate the genitals. In veterinary medicine, analysis of this smegma is sometimes used for detection of urogenital tract pathogens, such as Tritrichomonas foetus. |last1=Chen |first1=X. G. |last2=Li |first2=J. |year=2001 |title=Increasing the sensitivity of PCR detection in bovine preputial smegma spiked with Tritrichomonas foetus by the addition of agar and resin |journal=Parasitology Research |volume=87 |issue=7 |pages=556–558 |doi=10.1007/s004360100401 |pmid=11484853 |s2cid=7671511 |name-list-style=vanc

References

References

  1. {{cite Merriam-Webster. smegma
  2. (June 2018). "Retrospective Study of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Clitoral Adhesions: Women's Health Providers Should Routinely Examine the Glans Clitoris". Sexual Medicine.
  3. (April 2017). "PD25-02 Taking Responsibility for Female Prepucial Disorders: Urologic Management of Phimosis-Based Clitorodynia". Journal of Urology.
  4. (August 2015). "Clitorodynia: A Descriptive Study of Clitoral Pain". The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
  5. (November 2000). "The Role of the Levator Ani Muscle in Evacuation, Sexual Performance and Pelvic Floor Disorders". International Urogynecology Journal.
  6. (25 June 2018). "Risk Factors for Penile Cancer". [[American Cancer Society]].
  7. Primary Industries Ministerial Council of Australia and New Zealand (2002). [http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/fms/Animal%20Health%20Australia/AUSVETPLAN/cemfinal.pdf Disease strategy: Contagious equine metritis] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-07-21 (Version 1.0). In: Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN), Edition 3, PIMCANZ, Canberra, ACT.)
  8. (1 September 2001). "A Clean Sheath Is A Healthy Sheath". Horse City.

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excretionexocrine-systemmammal-female-reproductive-systemmammal-male-reproductive-system