Researchers: More people than expected may have three penises

Medical students in the UK stumbled upon an unexpected discovery when they examined a body donated to science. The man in question had triphallia - that is, three penises.

» Published:

Researchers: More people than expected may have three penises
Photo: Gorm Kallestad/NTB/TT

Share this article

The condition is extremely rare, reports The Independent. About one in six million is born with so-called diphallia, two penises, and three penises are even more rare.

Triphallia has only been reported once before, in a newborn boy in Iraq in 2020.

The new discovery, described in a study published in Journal of Medical Case Reports, was made during the dissection of a 78-year-old man.

According to the study, it is possible that the man never realized he had three penises, as the other two were smaller and hidden behind the primary genital organ.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham suspect that more men than expected may have three penises – without knowing it.

"Without dissection, this anatomical variation would have remained undetected, which suggests that the prevalence of polyphallia is greater than expected," they write.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Tanker Truck Explosion in Mexico City Injures Nearly 60

Tanker Truck Explosion in Mexico City Injures Nearly 60

Suspect Arrested in Shooting Death of Right-Wing Figure Charlie Kirk

Suspect Arrested in Shooting Death of Right-Wing Figure Charlie Kirk

Sebastien Lecornu Sworn In as Protests Erupt Across France

Sebastien Lecornu Sworn In as Protests Erupt Across France

Netanyahu Urges Qatar to Expel or Prosecute Terrorists

Netanyahu Urges Qatar to Expel or Prosecute Terrorists

Charlie Kirk Shot Dead at Utah University Event

Charlie Kirk Shot Dead at Utah University Event

Cuba Faces Fifth Nationwide Power Outage This Year

Cuba Faces Fifth Nationwide Power Outage This Year

Deadly Floods Devastate Bali and Flores, 15 Dead and 6 Missing

Deadly Floods Devastate Bali and Flores, 15 Dead and 6 Missing

Qatar's Neutrality Questioned After Israeli Airstrike in Doha

Qatar's Neutrality Questioned After Israeli Airstrike in Doha

New Concerns Arise for Ursula von der Leyen in European Parliament

New Concerns Arise for Ursula von der Leyen in European Parliament

Israeli Airstrikes in Yemen Kill Over 30, Houthi Movement Reports

Israeli Airstrikes in Yemen Kill Over 30, Houthi Movement Reports

Nepal Military Enforces Control Amid Protests and Government Resignation

Nepal Military Enforces Control Amid Protests and Government Resignation

IS Member Sentenced to Life for Fatal Knife Attack at German Festival

IS Member Sentenced to Life for Fatal Knife Attack at German Festival

France Faces Protests as New Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Takes Office

France Faces Protests as New Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Takes Office

EU Proposes Pausing Trade Agreement with Israel Amid Gaza Concerns

EU Proposes Pausing Trade Agreement with Israel Amid Gaza Concerns

Trump Criticizes Israel Over Qatar Incident: "Not Satisfied"

Trump Criticizes Israel Over Qatar Incident: "Not Satisfied"

Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones: Expert Says It Was Inevitable

Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones: Expert Says It Was Inevitable

Trump Questions Russian Drone Incursion in Poland

Trump Questions Russian Drone Incursion in Poland

EU Leader Ursula von der Leyen Faces Pressure in Parliament This Autumn

EU Leader Ursula von der Leyen Faces Pressure in Parliament This Autumn

Poland Invokes NATO Article 4 After Russian Drone Airspace Violation

Poland Invokes NATO Article 4 After Russian Drone Airspace Violation

Greta Thunberg's Convoy Targeted by Drone Attack for Second Night

Greta Thunberg's Convoy Targeted by Drone Attack for Second Night