From Corn Flakes’ role to the controversial correlation about feet size.
You may feel that the penis — that male sex organ — hold few secrets. For time immemorial, we’ve been carving said objects out of stone and marble (think: all of Greek antiquity) and scientists of yore have given plenty of airtime to phallic pleasure. But, while perhaps at first blush less complicated to navigate than, say, the inner workings of a vagina, that ‘ol male appendage might just surprise you.
So, with the intention of imbuing the storied weiner with a little mystery, we’ve gone ahead and sussed out nine facts about the penis and its antics that you likely didn’t know — whether or not you’ve got one between your legs. Go ahead and peruse the below — then share your newfound knowledge eagerly with dinner party guests…or simply sit and revel in your increased biological wisdom.
There is absolutely no correlation between shoe size and penis size
Sure, this myth has been floating around for as long as folks have been speculating about size. But, according to a recent study documented in BJU International (among a number of other resources), there is no cohesive relationship at all between the size of your feet, and the size of your sex organ.
The average speed of ejaculation is 28 miles per hour
Which is, fortunately, under most local speed limits.
Corn Flakes were actually designed to help prevent masturbation
As most can attest, the consumption of cornflakes does not harbor any influence over self pleasure. But Dr. John Harvey Kellogg — the king of breakfast cereals — invented this particular product under the belief plain foods would lead consumers away from the “sin” of masturbation.
Over time, smoking can shorten the penis by as much as 1 centimeter
For smokers, calcified blood vessels reduce erectile circulation — which can lead to real, legitimate shrinkage.
Fetuses can get erections
Not only do ultrasound scans often depict fetuses with fully erect penises, but it’s also relatively common for babies to be born into this world, fully erect. Quite the entrance.
…And so can dying men
Yes, the deathbed erection is a thing. Typically called the “terminal erection,” it’s not uncommon for men to stiffen up, right after death (this is uniquely common amongst men who die from hanging, but that’s neither here nor there).
You can, in fact, break your penis
Or, more accurately, you can fracture your phallus. When the tunica albuginea — the sheath that gives an erect penis its rigidity — encounters blunt force, it’s susceptible to breakage. And likely, this will come with a loud, unnerving popping noise.
Any given penis is likely twice as long as you think
Surprisingly enough, a substantial length of a man’s penis is actually tucked up inside the pelvis and attached to the pubic bone — about half to be specific. However inaccessible, it is, in fact, there.
Scientists believe that penises were once…barbed
So, the human penis is fairly smooth. But, on the contrary, chimp penises have small barbs — which are designed to irritate female chimp’s vaginas upon removal, making it so she avoids mating with other chimps after procreating (not chill, we know). Plenty of scientists believe that, like so many of our primate cousins, the original male penis was barbed as well. Let’s all take a moment to feel some gratitude for penile evolution.
Originally published at https://getmaude.com.
