Why is the glans not hard during erection?

The penis is a very important sexual organ for men. During normal sexual intercourse, the hardness of the penis during erection has a great relationship with the quality of sexual life. Some men have an erection of the penis, but the glans penis is not very hard. To correctly understand this phenomenon, we must first see whether it affects sexual life, and then consider the cause. So, why is the glans penis not hard during erection? Let's take a closer look.

Different physiological changes of the glans penis during erection

The penis will become erect and hard during sexual desire or intercourse, but the functions of the corpora cavernosa of the penis and the corpora cavernosa of the urethra are different. The corpora cavernosa of the penis will increase significantly when it is engorged with blood, and its hardness will increase, with strength close to that of cartilage (or forehead). The corpora cavernosa of the urethra will also become engorged with blood and its volume will increase, but the corpora cavernosa of the urethra and the glans penis are different from the corpora cavernosa of the penis.

In the above paragraph about the structure of the glans penis, it is mentioned that the corpus cavernosum of the penis and the corpus cavernosum of the urethra are structurally different, and it is these differences that determine their different functions and roles in the process of penis erection. The outside of the corpus cavernosum of the penis is surrounded by a layer of tough tissue called the tunica albuginea, and the inner core is the cavernous sinus. The tunica albuginea is very tough and basically cannot expand. The sinus can ensure that the pressure inside the corpus cavernosum is maintained at a relatively high level during erection. As a result, the corpus cavernosum of the penis can maintain sufficient hardness during penis erection. The corpus cavernosum of the urethra (including the glans penis) does not have a tough tunica albuginea and cavernous sinuses, so even though it becomes engorged with blood during erection, it is not very hard.

The different hardness of the penis and glans during erection and its significance

From the above analysis, we can see that even for normal people, the hardness of the penis and glans penis will not be the same during erection. The penis will erect and harden, while the corpus cavernosum and glans penis will only be engorged with blood, becoming swollen but not very hard, which is a normal phenomenon. From a physiological point of view, this is also in line with physiological needs. First, the penis becomes hard during erection to ensure that it can be inserted during intercourse, which is necessary for sexual life. Second, the glans penis remains swollen during intercourse instead of being as hard as cartilage, which is also conducive to intercourse, maintaining comfort and avoiding injuries. Third, the corpus cavernosum of the urethra is only engorged with blood during erection, and the pressure inside the corpus cavernosum does not increase significantly, which can maintain the patency of the urethra. Only in this way can semen be ejected from the urethra.

What is the hardness of the glans penis when fully erect?

In summary, the glans penis will swell with blood when the penis is erect, and the hardness of the glans penis is not the same as the hardness of the penis body. The hardness of the glans penis during erection is just swollen and elastic. If it is normal for the penis body to be as hard as the forehead, then it is normal for the glans penis to be as hard as the "tip of the nose".