penis

noun pe·nis \ˈpē-nəs\

: the part of the body of men and male animals that is used for sex and through which urine leaves the body

plural pe·nis·es also pe·nes \ˈpē-(ˌ)nēz\

Full Definition of PENIS

: a male erectile organ of copulation by which urine and semen are discharged from the body and that develops from the same embryonic mass of tissue as the clitoris

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Origin of PENIS

Latin, penis, tail; akin to Old High German faselt penis, Greek peos

First Known Use: 1668

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with PENIS

genus, lenis, venous, Venus

PENIS Defined for Kids

penis

noun pe·nis \ˈpē-nəs\

plural pe·nis·es also pe·nes \-ˌnēz\

Definition of PENIS for Kids

: a male organ in mammals through which urine and sperm leave the body

Medical Dictionary

penis

noun pe·nis \ˈpē-nəs\

plural pe·nes \ˈpē-(ˌ)nēz\ or pe·nis·es

Medical Definition of PENIS

: the male copulatory organ of a higher vertebrate animal that in mammals including humans usually functions as the channel by which urine leaves the body and is typically a cylindrical organ that is suspended from the pubic arch, contains a pair of large lateral corpora cavernosa and a smaller ventromedial corpus cavernosum containing the urethra, and has a terminal glans enclosing the ends of the corpora cavernosa, covered by mucous membrane, and sheathed by a foreskin continuous with the skin covering the body of the organ