The condition is incredibly rare, with estimates pointing to just one in every six million births. The man had a visible penis and two others hidden under the skin of his scrotum.
Medical students in the UK have documented one of the rarest anatomical conditions on record, after discovering a man with three penises during a routine dissection on a cadaver.
The unusual discovery was made during an examination of the body of a 78-year-old man who donated his remains to science. According to a recent case report , the discovery was completely unexpected and represents only the second documented case of triphaly — the presence of three penises — in medical literature.
The researchers discovered that the man had an externally visible penis e two additional penile structures hidden under the skin of the scrotum. All three possessed essential anatomical features associated with penile development, including the glans and the erectile tissue known as the corpus cavernosum.
Measurements revealed that the main penis had approximately 7.7 centimeters in length, while the two smaller structures measured about 3.8 and 3.7 centimeters, respectively. Despite the presence of three penises, doctors identified only a single urethrathe channel responsible for transporting urine from the bladder out of the body, explains the
The report describes the urethra as following an unusually complex path. It passed through one of the smaller penises before redirecting to the main penis and exiting through the normal external opening. The researchers noted that this unusual anatomy likely would complicate medical procedures such as urinary catheterization.
Scientists believe the condition originated during fetal development. A structure known as the genital tubercle typically develops on the penis or clitoris. In this case, the researchers suggest that a rare triplication of the genital tubercle may have occurred, resulting in the formation of three penile structures.
Because the body donor’s identity and medical records were not available, investigators were unable to determine whether the man was aware of his condition. However, they expressed doubts that she had gone completely unnoticed her entire life. The presence of scars resulting from previous inguinal hernia surgery led researchers to speculate that the presence of additional penile structures may have contributed to the weakening of the abdominal wallpotentially drawing attention to the anomaly at some point.
The condition is extremely rare. Previous studies estimate that cases involving more than one penis occur in just one in every five to six million birthswith the vast majority involving two penises rather than three. The newly documented case is the first example of triphalia identified during a cadaver dissection.
Doctors note that supernumerary penises are often associated with complicationsincluding urinary tract infections, fertility problems, and sexual dysfunction. In many cases, surgical removal is recommended. However, researchers believe the man may have chosen not to undergo treatment because the condition appeared to cause few symptoms and remained largely benign throughout his life.
