A Glossary of the Foreskin, Circumcision and the Movement to End It
PENILE ANATOMY
(Highlighted entry-words link to a single picture.)
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adhesion
-
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False diagnosis of normal union between neonatal foreskin
and glans as pathological. "Cured" by circumcision,
as sleep in the eyes would be cured by beheading.
-
Iatrogenic joining of the foreskin to the
glans caused by misguided attempts to separate them
prematurely, with tearing and joining of raw wound-tissues. Can cause
phimosis
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anastomosis
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Cross-connection, esp. of veins in the foreskin. (Gk. ana- = back, stomos
= opening, pl. anastomoses)
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aposthia
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Condition of naturally having no foreskin. According to tradition, Mohammed
was born without a foreskin (aposthetic) and Muslims practice circumcision
to be like him. (Gk a- = not, posthe = foreskin, -ia = condition)
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"ballooning"
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Inflation of the foreskin with urine during urination. Perfectly normal in
neonates unless it causes pain. Can then be treated
without surgery.
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bulla
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The swelling of the urethra just inside the
meatus. (L. = bubble)
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cingulus levis
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Anatomical Latin name suggested by Ken McGrath for the zone or band of
smooth mucosa on the inner foreskin. (L. = smooth
zone)
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cingulus rugosus
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Anatomical Latin name suggested by Ken McGrath for the
ridged band (L. = corrugated zone)
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corona (glandis)
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The flange at the base of the glans penis. (L. = crown
of the acorn)
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corpus cavernosum
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One of the two partially hollow columns forming the sides and
dorsum of the shaft of the penis, that engorge with
blood in erection. (L. = cavernous body, pl. corpora
cavernosa)
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corpus spongiosum
-
The spongy body running under the corpora cavernosa
along the length of the penis, surrounding the
urethra, that partially engorges with blood in erection.
( L. = spongy body, pl. corpora spongiosa)
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dartos
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A thin layer of muscle lying directly under the skin of the penis and scrotum
(it causes the scrotum to retract when cold and writhe when hot). It runs
around the tip of the foreskin, forming the
preputial sphincter.
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distal (to)
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Farther from the body. (opp. proximal)
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dorsal
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Of the dorsum: in the case of the penis, on the upper
side when its owner is standing upright and it is horizontal. (opp. ventral)
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dorsum
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the back part (L. = back)
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FORESKIN
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Surprisingly hard to define, and the outer layer of the foreskin does not
exist as an entity distinct from the shaft-skin of the penis. (For that reason
it is not specifically marked in the picture.)
In general though, the foreskin is the tapered cylindrical double layer of
tissue extending from behind the corona
distally to about the end of the
glans and returning, and generally considered to end
at the same distance along the penis as it began (ie, it is defined by
circumcision...). From the corona to the
ridged band its surface is
mucosa; the rest is skin, and it is lined with part
of the dartos muscle. On erection for most men it becomes
a single-layered cylinder, mucosa behind the corona, skin distally, enclosing
about half of the shaft.
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fossa navicularis
-
See bulla (L., fossa = channel, navicularis = boat-shaped)
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frenar band
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See ridged band. (A different structure from the
frenulum.)
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frenular band
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See ridged band. (A different structure from the
frenulum.)
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frenulum
-
The membrane attaching the foreskin to the glans and
shaft of the penis (at the ventral midline, just
proximal to the meatus). It is richly endowed with
nerves. Often only a remnant of the frenulum is left after circumcision,
if it is not also removed. Many circumcised men consider it their "G-spot"
- but only because their "G-area", the ridged
band, has been removed. (L. fraenulum = little bridle pl. frenula) There
are also frenula under the tongue and elsewhere.
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frenulum breve
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Strictly, having a short frenulum, but commonly,
having a short ridged band, a cause of
phimosis and an impressive-sounding excuse for
circumcision. (L. brevis = short)
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frenum
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Sometimes used for frenulum. (L. fraenum = bridle)
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epispadias
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A condition in which the meatus points upward rather
than forward. Does not require treatment if urinary flow is not obstructed.
May also be iatrogenic, if the
glans is included when the foreskin is first slit with
scissors.
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glans (penis)
-
The bulbous head of the penis. (L. = acorn (of the penis), pl. glandes (pen[i]um)
The same word is the root of "gland")
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hypospadias
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A condition in which the meatus points downward rather
than forward, either as a birth variation or
iatrogenic, a consequence of circumcision.
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meatal stenosis
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Narrowing of the meatus, one of the possible consequences
of circumcision.
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meatus
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The opening of the urethra. (pl meatus or meatuses,
may be pronounced as three syllables, me-a-tus)
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meatal lips
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The tiny swellings on either side of the meatus. (may
be pronounced me-ay-tal) Their conformation is very different after circumcision.
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meatitis
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Inflammation of the meatus, one of the possible
consequences of circumcision.
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mega-prepuce
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A very large foreskin, i.e. bigger than someone else likes, sometimes used
as justification for circumcision (Gk mega = large)
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Meissner's corpuscles
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Nerve-endings associated with the perception of fine variations of touch
(and pleasure), very numerous in the ridged band
and frenulum.
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microposthia
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Condition of having a very small foreskin, sometimes used as a justification
for circumcision on the basis that nothing much is lost, ignoring the role
of the ridged band (Gk micro = small)
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mucosa
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Skin-like membrane lining the foreskin and covering the
glans (and lining the vagina, mouth and anus). It is
normally always moist.
-
mucous membrane
-
See mucosa.
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necrotizing fasciitis
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"Galloping gangrene", a possible consequence of circumcision.
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papilla coronis
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Any of the small white points of hardened mucous
membrane along the corona glandis in some
intact men. In circumcised men they are lost among the general
keratinization. (L= little nipple of the corona,
pl. papillae coronis)
(In cats and rodents they are much more pointed, shocking the females into
ovulation, and related to the much sharper ones on cats' tongues.)
-
paraphimosis
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Condition where the ridged band is trapped behind
the corona. May be relieved without surgery.
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penes
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L. plural of penis. Penises is clear; peni and penii would be the plurals
of "penus" and "penius".
-
penile
-
Of the penis.
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phimosis
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Inability to retract the foreskin. Normal in all
neonates (because the synechia
attach the foreskin to the glans), many children and
some adults (if the ridged band is short).It can
be treated without surgery if painful or if the urinary flow is obstructed.
(Gk = muzzling)
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prepuce
-
See foreskin. (from L. prae, in front, and putium,
penis)
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pr[a]eputial
sphincter
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The "drawstring" of the foreskin, formed of the dartos
muscle.
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pr[a]eputial stenosis
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Narrowing of the foreskin. Replacing "phimosis" to
describe inability to retract the foreskin in adulthood. May be treated (if
any treatment is needed) without surgery. (L. praeputium = foreskin, Gk stenosis
= narrowing)
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proximal (to)
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Nearer to the body. (opp. distal)
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raphe
-
The "seam" up the underside of the penis (actually running all the way from
the anus to the urinary meatus), where the
urethra closed up before birth.
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ridged band
-
A zone of corrugated tissue running from the
frenulum, around the inside of the foreskin close
to the preputial sphincter (and therefore
is largely removed by even minimal circumcision) and back to the
frenulum. It lies between the outer skin and the
smooth band.It is richly endowed with nerves.
Meissners corpuscles are concentrated
in the peaks of the ridges.
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smegma
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A natural secretion of skin cells and oils that collects under the foreskin
in both males and females. It may have a pungent aroma (commonly compared
to cheese [males] or fish [females]), and has lubricant, pheromonal (sexual
attractant) and perhaps bacteriostatic (bacteria-killing) functions.
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smooth band
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The area of the foreskin between the ridged band
and the sulcus.
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smooth mucosa
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The tissue of the surface of the smooth band (but
the terms smooth mucosa and smooth band are often used interchangeably).
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synechia
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The membrane attaching the inner (mucosal) surface
of the neonatal foreskin to the glans
penis. It separates naturally (helped by masturbation) before adolescence.
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sulcus
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The groove in the penile shaft behind the
glans penis.
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superficial dorsal vein
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A vein running up the dorsal surface of the penis directly
under the skin, more prominent in circumcised men, indicating that circumcision
modifies the penile circulation.
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Tysons glands
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Glands supposed to exist in the corona and secrete
smegma. They were found in orang outangs; they have
not been confirmed in humans.
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urethra
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The tube running the length of the penis carrying urine and semen. (cf. the
tubes from the kidneys to the bladder, the ureters)
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ventral
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Of the belly: in the case of the penis, on the underside when its owner is
standing upright and it is horizontal. (opp. dorsal)
SKINONYMS - SYNONYMS FOR "FORESKIN" etc
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blaengroen
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Welsh, blaen = first/foremost, croen -> groen = skin
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Cavalier (intact male)
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UK Opp.: Roundhead
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forhud
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Norwegian, for = front, hud = skin
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förhud (o-diaresis)
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Swedish, för = front, hud = skin
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(lace) curtains
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Mainly US
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ngovi (= foreskin, or intact man)
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Swahili
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prepuce
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from L. prae, in front, and putium, penis
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snozzle
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coined by HY, May 1997, as a friendlier, less clinical alternative
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vorhaut
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German, vor = fore / in front, haut = skin
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whistle (= intact penis)
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South Africa Opp.: cherry.
SURGICAL CIRCUMCISION
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ablate
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Remove. (ablation = removal) (L., = carry away)
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CIRCUMCISION
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A euphemism for MGM, but generally used to mean cutting
off the whole of the foreskin. (L. circumcidere =
to cut around) It may leave less or more of the inner
mucosa and of the frenulum,
at the whim of the circumcisor, to the greater or lesser detriment of the
person circumcised.
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Circumstraint (tm)
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Torture-board with straps to hold down a baby sensibly struggling against
being circumcised.
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cornification
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See keratinisation. (L. cornus = horn) A useful
reminder that the circumcised glans hardens like a worker's
hands (but beware of the double meaning of "horny").
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fistula
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A tubular complication of circumcision, as when a skin
bridge is open underneath. (L. = pipe, flute, pl. fistulae)
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Gomco clamp (tm)
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A circumcision device invented in 1934, consisting of a metal bell placed
over the glans (requiring a slit in the foreskin first)
and a flat metal ring over both, to define the position of the cut. They
are brought together by a screw to apply circular crushing and fusing force
at the position of excision. Leaves a characteristic dark line at the excision
scar. (from [Aaron] GOldstein Manufacturing COmpany, later Gomco Surgical
Manufacturing Co.)
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iatrogenic
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(Damage) caused by a doctor (or nurse or parent) eg,
phimosis caused by premature attempt to retract the
foreskin. (Gk. iatros = physician)
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infibulation
-
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Installation of a sealed wire loop through holes in the foreskin to make
erection painful in an attempt to prevent masturbation. (L. fibula = brooch)
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Drastic scraping and removal of female genitalia, leaving only a small hole.
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keratinisation
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Hardening of the mucosa of the glans after circumcision,
leading to reduced sensitivity. (Gk. keras = horn)
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Mogen clamp (tm?)
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One of a series of circumcision instruments made by this company, including
probe, probe-tipped scissors, etc. Described as "the least painful method"
and "able to be used without previous experience."
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necrosis
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Death of tissue. (adj. necrotic)
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neonate
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Newborn baby. (adj. neonatal)
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PlastiBell (tm)
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A grooved plastic dome placed under the divided foreskin. A ligature (thread)
is tied tightly around the foreskin, crushing it into the groove, causing
it to become necrotic (to die) and drop off.
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posthectomy
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Medical Gk for circumcision (posthe = foreskin, -ectomy = cutting off)
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Sheldon clamp (tm)
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A circumcision device with jaws. (more details needed)
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skin bridge
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A complication of circumcision in which the healing excision scar fuses to
the damaged mucosa of the glans,
usually at the corona.
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suture-hole
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A complication of circumcision in which a depression is left in the skin
when a stitch is removed or dissolves.
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Tara KLamp (tm)
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A non-reusable circumcision device made of plastic. Works by cutting off
circulation to the foreskin, using a plastic ring clamped in place over a
tube (to allow urination). Available in sizes up to adult, recently developed
in Malaysia. (Capital, Kuala Lumpur = K.L., hence KLamp)
OTHER SURGERY
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dorsal slit
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In the foreskin, a crude form of posthioplasty
to relieve phimosis. Very similar to
super[in]cision.
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posthioplasty
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Reshaping-surgery on the foreskin (including circumcision-reversal).
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Z-plasty
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Form of posthioplasty (eg to correct
phimosis or to taper a non-surgically
restored foreskin) involving a Z-shaped incision.
RITUAL CIRCUMCISION
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Amidsha
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Yugoslav Muslim circumcisor
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arel
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Intact male (Heb., pl = arelim)
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barzel
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Slotted plate used in Brit Milah to isolate the
glans from the foreskin to be removed.(Heb., = iron,
knife)
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brit/bris/brith
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Heb., = covenant, pl., Britot
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Brit Mila[h]
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Jewish circumcision ceremony, performed on the eighth day after birth. (Heb.,
= covenant of cutting, pl. Brit Milot)
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Brit Shalom
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Surgery-free Jewish naming ceremony. (Heb., = covenant of peace) NB The Brit
Shalom Society had nothing to do with circumcision: it was an organisation
of Jewish intellectuals in the 1920s-30s promoting Jewish-Arab reconciliation.
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Encoumbee
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Pygmy circumcision ceremony
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Es-selkh
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Bedouin circumcision ceremony
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Eunoto
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Maasai circumcision ceremony
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Feast of the Circumcision
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January 1 (the eighth day after Christmas), Christian festival of Jesus'
circumcision (generally used to remember his human susceptibility to wounding,
and his circumcision as a precursor of his crucifixion, rather than his Judaism).
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khAfiDah
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Woman who excises girls' genitalia (Arabic = she who lowers the clitoris)
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khAtin
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Circumcisor (Ar. fem. Khatinah)
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khitAn
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Circumcision (classical Ar.)
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khitoum (khitOn?)
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Islamic ritual circumcisors (from khitAn) The name is used in parts of Egypt,
throughout the Levant, Iraq, the Arab Peninsula and the Gulf. Khitoum are
barber-surgeons.
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mezizah/metzitzah
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The sucking of blood from the wound, nowadays done through a glass tube.
(Heb., = sucking, not to be confused with Mezuzah, a holder for a scroll,
nailed to a door-post)
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muzayyeen
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Barber. (pl. muzayyinUn -In.) The name used in Islamic North Africa from
Morocco to Egypt. Barbers usually perform circumcisions.
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mohel
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Jewish ritual circumcisor. Need not be a rabbi. May be a doctor. (pl. Mohelim,
fem. (Reform) mohelet)
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moyle/moyil
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Yiddish for mohel
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muTahhar
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Purified, circumcised (Ar., passive participle of
TaThIr)
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muTahhir
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Islamic ritual circumcisor (Ar., = purifier)
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perangan
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Slotted board used in Malay ritual circumcision (cf
barzel)
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periah/priyah
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The radical form of Jewish circumcision instituted (or formalised) in the
second century CE to prevent concealment. (Heb., = complete)
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peritomy
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Anglicised Gk = circumcision. St Paul said repeatedly that it was not necessary
for Christians. (peri = around, -tomia = cutting)
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sply
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Split the penis ("like a hotdog" - Glenn Epps), an even more extreme form
of subincision.
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subincision
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A ventral slit in the penis through to the
urethra, from the meatus some
way along the shaft, customary among some Australian aboriginal peoples.
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super[in]cision
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A dorsal slit in the foreskin, used by/on the priestly
and royal castes of ancient Egypt and still customary among some Pacific
peoples. (If done pre-puberty, the outcome looks similar to circumcision
and has the advantage over circumcision that no tissue is lost.)
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tahara
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Circumcision (Ar. = purification)
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taThIr
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Circumcise (Ar., = make pure)
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Tok Mudim
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(Malay) Ritual circumcisor
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Urkwtha
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Ritual circumcision in the Ciskei of Southern Africa (Xhosa)
RESTORATION
BUFF method
A restoration method promoted by BUFF, involving regular
stretching.
decircumcise
See restore.
fore-ball
Dumbbell-shaped steel device for late stages of restoration. The skin is
taped over one ball, the other used to attach weight or elastic.
J-tape
Restoration method developed by Johnny:
<johnny.com@sympatico.ca>
for details.
Point Of Equilibrium
The point (actually a line around the penis) where tension toward the glans
and toward the base is equal when T-tape draws the skin
forward.
Recap (tm)
Early name for the Restor-EZ
restore
Return penis to as near as possible to the way it would be if not circumcised,
by a) using mild tension over time to encourage growth, b) surgery.
Restor-EZ
System of restoration involving a cylindical splint.
RS system
Restore Skin system. A kitset consisting of T-tape,
suspender-like elastics, and a special oil to remove the tapes and their
adhesive.
T-tape
Surgical tape made in a T-shaped cross-section, with the top of the crossbar
adhesive, gripping both sides of the skin to be pulled forward, and the upright
used to apply tension.
Tugger (tm)
A weight shaped to fit the front of the glans, to which
the restoring foreskin may be taped, with a hole for
urination. (Formerly P.U.D., Penis Uncircumcising Device)
uncircumcise
Restore foreskin. "Uncircumcised" is not generally
used in Intactivist circles to describe
intact penises or men.
INTACTIVISM
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disendow
-
Reduce endowment. A word (adapted to this sense in 1996 by John Antonopoulis
of Montreal) whose derivatives, disendowment, etc., usefully remind people
that circumcision reduces the size of the penis - something some men
are said to care about.
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intact
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Whole (of man or penis, with his or its original foreskin) (L. = not touched)
-
Intactivism
-
The movement to protect children from having healthy parts of their genitals
cut off.
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Intactivist
-
The highest form of human life, one who selflessly devotes him/herself to
the cause of Intactivism. (Word coined by Richard
De Seabra in 1995 - although not with this definition.)
-
Intactness Day
-
July 1, as far as possible from the Feast
of the Circumcision, a yet-to-be-celebrated festival of intactness, whether
achieved, wished for or worked for.
-
Intact Network
-
A group of intact and restoring
men, and women, promoting Intactivism through
the "Intact Network" newsletter.
-
"Intact Network"
-
A two-monthly newsletter promoting Intactivism,
edited by Ken Derifield
<intacnet@e-z.net>
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Intact-Up
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A yet-to-be-formed body that will retire
Circumstraints (tm), rescue babies, spill mock-blood
on hospital steps, disrupt meetings of circumcisors and (non-violently) bomb
circumcision chambers.
-
Penis Day
-
(Date to be decided) A day set aside for celebrating the penis. (Some women
will ask, "What day isn't?")
ABBREVIATIONS
-
ACOG
-
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
-
AHA
-
American Hospital Association
-
AMA
-
Albanian Medical Association; American Medical Association
-
AAP
-
American Academy of Pediatrics
-
BJU
-
British Journal of Urology
-
BMJ
-
British Medical Journal
-
BUFF
-
Brothers United for Future Foreskins, a restoration
organisation ("mostly married heterosexuals" - Bud Berkeley)
-
c.
-
circumcise, circumcision. Many people try to avoid the words.
-
CF/IS
-
Circumcised Fathers of Intact Sons, a support group
-
circ[.]
-
circumcise, circumcision. Many Intactivists dislike
this abbreviation because it trivialises (and - sounding like "dirk" -
"masculinises? - HY) the operation.
-
CIRP
-
Circumcision Information and Resource Pages
(http://www.cirp.org/CIRP/
)
-
CMA
-
Canadian Medical Association
-
CPA
-
Canadian Paediatric Society
-
FGM
-
Female Genital Mutilation (previously known as female circumcision)
-
FIG
-
Fear, Ignorance, Greed - three of the main motivations for circumcision.
-
FoF
-
Friends of Foreskin, an Intactivist umbrella group
(New Zealand)
-
FR
-
Foreskin Restoration
-
FS
-
ForeSkin
-
HGM
-
Human Genital Mutilation (FGM + MGM)
-
HOW
-
Healing Our Wounds, a San Francisco support group for circumcised men. Contact
Wayne Goodman
<WGoodman@pacbell.net>.
-
JAMA
-
Journal of the American Medical Association
-
IMAC
-
Intact Men Against Circumcision, an Intactivist
organisation
-
LC
-
Law Commission (UK)
-
MGM
-
Male Genital Mutilation
-
NOCIRC
-
National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers
-
NOHARMM
-
National Organization to Halt the Abuse and Routine Mutilation of Males
-
NORM
-
National Organi[s/z]ation of Restoring Men, a
restoration organisation. (s in NZ, z in US) The US
one has the domain name NORM.ORG
-
NRC
-
Non-Religious Circumcision (coined by Don Morgan, not widely current)
-
OB/GYN
-
Obstetrician/Gyn[a]ecologist. A doctor specializing in childbirth/women,
with no particular expertise in the genitalia of baby boys. (L = one who
stands in front / Gk = one who discourses on women)
-
POE
-
Point Of Equilibrium
-
P.U.D.
-
See Tugger.
-
RIC
-
Routine Infant Circumcision (an in-house
Intactivist expression)
-
RS
-
Restore Skin (system)
-
SMEGMA.
-
Stop Mutilating Every Goy Manchild Automatically, a transient three-member
organisation on a Compuserve holistic health group, headed by John Chastain.
See also smegma.
-
USA
-
(also) Uncircumcised Society of America, a club mainly for gay men with a
foreskin fetish.
Thanks to
-
-
the late Glenn M. J. Epps
Sami Aldeeb
Rudy the Alphacub
Mario I. Calderó [acute o]
Peter Daniels
John Erickson
Geoffrey T. Falk
Al Fields
Nicholas Heer
George Hill
Jono Hoch
Menahem Luz
Ken McGrath
Robert Meigs
Mr Martin B Novoa
Chris Price
R. Wayne
John Willcocks
Miles Witt
for comments and corrections.
(c) Copyright 1998 by Hugh
Young
May be freely republished in the cause of ending infant genital
mutilation.
Return to Mothers Against
Circumcision
Copied into MAC from Hugh Young's
http://www.circumstitions.com/Glossary.html
See his Intactivism
page