The penis is shaped like a mushroom to improve its function.
If you’ve ever wondered why the penis is shaped like a mushroom, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s a question that has been asked by many people over the years. Some have suggested that it resembles a horse’s tail, while others have suggested that it looks like an elephant trunk. But according to Dr David Veale, who specializes in anxiety disorders and OCD at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, the penis is shaped like a mushroom for one simple reason: It helps with sexual function.
The head of the penis contains spongy tissue called corpus cavernosum. This tissue fills with blood when someone becomes sexually aroused and allows for an erection to occur. As Dr Veale explains in his paper “Shaped Like A Mushroom: Why Is The Penis Shaped Like That?” (via Psychology Today), the head of the penis is essentially just a big sponge that expands when it gets wet.
“The head of the penis contains spongy tissue called corpus cavernosum,” he writes. “This tissue fills with blood when someone becomes sexually aroused and allows for an erection to occur.”
“As such, if this area was wider or narrower then erections would be less likely or more difficult to achieve.”
