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This marked only the second documented instance of triphallia, often referred to as a “triple penis,” in medical records.(Image credit: Team Static via Getty Images)Share this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleSubscribe to our newsletter
The individual: A 78-year-old man from the United Kingdom
The discovery: Following his death, the man’s body was donated for medical study. During a dissection of the cadaver, students in medicine encountered an “unexpected finding” in the pelvic region, as detailed in a case report.
Within the skin of the scrotum, adjacent to a main external penis, lay two smaller penile structures. While only the primary penis was externally visible, all three possessed a bulbous end known as a glans and a spongy tissue chamber, the corpus cavernosum, which fills with blood to achieve an erection.
Subsequent actions: Medical professionals measured the three penises. The external one measured approximately 3 inches (7.7 centimeters) in length and 0.9 inches (2.4 cm) in width. The second penis was 1.49 inches (3.8 cm) long and 0.51 inches (1.3 cm) wide, while the third was 1.45 inches (3.7 cm) long and 0.47 inches (1.2 cm) wide.
Upon closer inspection, it was observed that a single urethra—the tube conveying urine from the bladder—followed a “winding path” through the secondary penis before entering the primary penis and terminating at the external penis’s urethral opening. No branching or additional urethral channels were found in the third, smallest penis.
The diagnosis: During embryonic development, a structure named the genital tubercle emerges, which subsequently forms the external genitalia, either a clitoris or a penis. “In this instance, there might have been a triplication of the genital tubercle,” leading to the development of three penises, according to the report. The condition of having three penises is termed triphallia. (A more prevalent variation of this abnormality is diphallia, signifying two penises.)
The urethra originated in the secondary penis but altered its trajectory, redirecting into the primary penis as the secondary one failed to develop completely, the researchers proposed.
The analysis: The instructors and students at the medical institution were unaware of the man’s identity and had no access to his medical history or records. Consequently, they could not ascertain if the man was aware of his condition. However, their report indicated skepticism that his triphallia went entirely undetected.
If the man had required the insertion of a urinary catheter, the procedure would have been exceptionally difficult due to “the convoluted nature of the urethra” as it encircled and passed through his second penis, the physicians explained in the report. They also noted indications of scarring in the man’s groin area, consistent with an inguinal hernia—a condition where internal abdominal tissue protrudes through a weakness in the abdominal wall known as the inguinal canal.
The authors hypothesized that the internal pressure or friction caused by the presence of two additional penises might have weakened the man’s lower abdominal wall, contributing to the hernia. They suggested that seeking medical treatment for this damage could have led other physicians to discover the extra penises.
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- Doctors were unable to ascertain the reason behind a boy’s bleeding from his eyes, ears, and nose.
- A woman developed whip-like rashes on her back after consuming shiitake mushrooms.
- A biopsy led to the ‘spontaneous regression’ of a woman’s arm tumor.
What makes this case distinctive: The development of more than one penis is exceptionally uncommon, occurring in approximately 1 in 5 to 6 million live births, according to a 2010 review of published medical reports; these instances are predominantly diphallia. This man’s case represented the first discovery of a triple penis in a cadaver and the second known example of triphallia documented in scientific literature overall.
In the majority of cases, the presence of extra penises is linked to medical issues such as sexual dysfunction, infertility, and urinary tract infections. When supernumerary penises result in physical discomfort or medical complications, surgical removal is a frequent remedy. Alternatively, if they are externally visible, individuals might opt for removal for aesthetic reasons, as stated in the report.
It is possible, the authors speculated, that in this particular case, the man was aware of his triphallia but chose not to undergo surgery “given the apparent lack of symptoms” and the “benign nature” of his condition.
