Hirsuties Coronae Glandis

Hirsuties coronae glandis (also known as "hirsutoid papillomas," and "pearly penile papules") are small saliences on the ridge of the glans of the male genital organs. It is a harmless anatomical variation. They are found significantly more often on uncircumcised men and younger men.

The papules appear as one or several rows of small, pearly or flesh-colored, smooth, dome-topped bumps situated circumferentially around the corona (see image) or sulcus of the glans penis. They range in size from less than 1 mm to 3 mm. They are common and estimated to be present in a quarter of adult men. These bumps are not transmitted through sexual activity and are not a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Hirsuties coronae glandis are sometimes described as vestigial remnants of penile spines, sensitive features found in the same location in other primates. However, penile spines in chimps and mice are small surface projections made by piling up of keratinized cell layers in the outer most skin surface. In contrast, the common structures found in humans are substantially larger, appear to be an outpocketing of both surface and underlying connective tissue layers, and lack the rich innervation seen in other animals. Thus the relationship between the structures is still uncertain. In the primate line from which humans have evolved, a regulatory DNA sequence associated with the formation of small keratinized penile spines was lost. This particular DNA sequence is missing in all humans tested, so cannot explain why some human males form penile papules and some do not. In species which retain the full expression of penile spines, penile spines contribute to sexual pleasure and quicker orgasms.

A similar expression, vestibular papillomatosis of the vulva or Hirsuties papillaris vulvae, occurs in females and similarly can be misinterpreted as an outbreak of the HPV infection. Like hirsuties papillaris genitalis, it is a normal variation on human anatomy.