A condition in which foreskin is not retracted over the glans is

Appeared in: UPPSC 2022

Explanation

Phimosis is the medical term for the inability to retract the foreskin (prepuce) over the glans penis.
This condition is considered physiologic (normal) in newborns and infants, as the foreskin naturally separates from the glans over time.
By age 3, the foreskin is retractable in approximately 80% of boys.
Pathologic phimosis occurs when the condition persists into late childhood or adulthood, or is caused by scarring from infection or trauma, leading to issues like pain, infection, or urinary obstruction.

Option A: Epispadias is a congenital anomaly related to the position of the urethral opening, not the retractability of the foreskin.
Option B: Hermaphroditism (now termed Disorders of Sex Development) relates to the presence of both male and female reproductive tissues and ambiguous genitalia, not the foreskin.
Option C: Cryptorchidism refers to the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum, a condition unrelated to the foreskin.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Conditions of the Male Genitourinary System as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing role is educating parents of uncircumcised male infants on proper hygiene, which involves gentle cleaning without forceful retraction of the foreskin to prevent injury and scarring.
Nurses must be able to differentiate between physiologic phimosis (normal in infants) and pathologic phimosis that requires medical intervention, and also recognize the signs of paraphimosis, a urologic emergency.
What if? If the foreskin is retracted but then cannot be returned to its original position over the glans, the condition is called paraphimosis. This is a medical emergency because it can cut off blood flow to the glans, requiring immediate manual reduction or surgical intervention.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'foreskin,' 'not retracted,' and 'glans.' This points to a condition involving the penis.
Next, analyze the options provided, which are all terms for congenital or acquired genitourinary conditions.
Recall or look up the definition of each term. Match the definition that fits the description in the question stem.
Phimosis directly translates to the inability to retract the foreskin. Epispadias, hermaphroditism, and cryptorchidism describe different anatomical anomalies, making them incorrect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 1100-1102

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.