Frenulum
A
frenulum (or
frenum) is a small fold of tissue that prevents an
organ in the
body from moving too far.
There are frenula at several points of the body, including several in the
mouth, some in the
digestive tract, and some connected to the
external genitalia.
Oral tissue
Frenula of the
mouth include the
frenulum linguae under the
tongue, the
f. labii superioris inside the upper lip, and the
f. labii inferioris inside the lower lip. These can easily be torn by violent blows to the face or mouth, and thus a torn frenulum is sometimes a warning sign of
physical abuse.
In
India, the
frenulum linguae on the underside of the tongue is occasionally cut in a
yogic practice called
Kechari mudra, to allow turning of the tongue itself up into the nasal cavity for spiritual practices. If too much of this frenulum is removed, it can result in severe problems.
Vulvular tissue
In the female, genital frenula include the
frenulum clitoridis of the
clitoris and the
frenulum labiorum pudendi (aka.
fourchette) where the
labia minora meet at the back.
Penile tissue
The word
frenulum on its own is often used for the frenulum preputii penis, which is an elastic band of tissue under the
glans penis that connects to the
prepuce, or
foreskin to the vernal mucosa, and helps contract the prepuce over the glans. It may be partially or totally removed during the style of hospital
circumcision practiced in various countries.
The frenulum is "particularly responsive to stimulation", and "very reactive", thus contributing to erogenous pleasure during sexual activity.
[Hass K., Hass A. Understanding Sexuality, St Louis: Mosby, 1993: 99-100][Crooks R., Baur K. Our Sexuality, Fifth Edition, Redwood City: The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., 1993: 129]Frenulum breve is the condition in which the frenulum of the penis is short and restricts the movement of the prepuce, and may or may not interfere with normal sexual activity. The condition can be treated by
frenuloplasty,
frenectomy, or
circumcision, but recently, frenulum breve has been treated with the use of
corticosteroid creams and manual stretching of the frenulum. The frenulum may be entirely missing in cases of first degree
Hypospadias.[
1]
It is possible for the frenulum of the penis to tear during sexual activity. This does not necessarily cause a great deal of pain (especially if accompanied by significant sexual pleasure) but can cause an alarming amount of blood loss. Typically, this is not a medical emergency and the frenulum will heal by itself once the initial bleeding has stopped.
A common colloquial term for the penile frenula is "banjo string" or "helmet strap".
The word
frenulum also refers to a bristle present at the root of the hindwing of most
moths which engages with a small hook on the forewing to join the wings together.
*
Circumcision*
Foreskin*
Frenular delta*
Frenum piercing*
Raphe*
Masturbation
*
The Frenular Delta (PDF)
