micropenis

micropenis An abnormally small penis. In medical practice, the dimension of the penis that is measured is the length. The measurement is taken along the upper surface of the shaft of the penis to the tip, using a measuring tape or, preferably, a ruler. The ruler is pressed firmly into the soft tissue over the pubic bone (the symphysis pubis) because in obese boys and men, a seemingly small penis may be partly engulfed by the fat pad at its base and actually be normal in length. Normal standards are available for penis length. True micropenis may reflect failure of normal hormonal stimulation or failure of normal development (a birth defect). See also microorchidism.