A small structure that has a restraining function. For example, the lingual frenulum attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth and appears to restrain it. A frenulum is literally a small bridle. It is the diminutive of frenum, the Latin word for bridle

It is not uncommon for males to be unaware of the term "frenulum" even though the area is a very sensitive one. The picture below shows where and what the frenulum is. In this example, this frenulum is short and prevents the foreskin from being pulled down to become smooth on the shaft. After circumcision, if the shaft skin becomes tight during erection, the frenulum would likely tug down on the glans, preventing it from standing up and instead having a slant.

There are ways to releive this slight problems without removing the frenulum in its entirety, and there is also the possibility of removing it entirely. One need not be circumcised to fix a short/tight frenulum (this condition is called frenulum breve.

Ankyloglossia, short frenulum, otherwise known as”tongue-tie”, is an anatomic factor that can interfere with breastfeeding. The frenulum is the membrane that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Tongue-tie results when the membrane is shorter than usual.

Some babies with tongue-tie breastfeed effortlessly while others struggle. Babies with a short frenulum may have problems latching on properly , maintaining suction, and moving their tongues in the wavelike motions necessary for effective breastfeeding. Breast shape, nipple size, and elasticity of breast tissue can also affect the "tongue-tied" baby.

Tight frenulums can also contribute to speech impediments in children.

If the tongue-tie is hindering breastfeeding, it's possible to release the tongue by clipping the frenulum.

Indications that a short frenulum requires clipping are:

Inability to protrude the tongue past the gum line where the lower teeth would be located.

During breastfeeding, the tongue does not protrude forward enough to make a tight seal on your nipple.

Your baby's mouth falls off the breast frequently.

Your baby is not getting enough milk , despite feeding many times per day.

You feel pain when your baby latches on (you may have cracked, sore nipples )

Your baby might not suck well on the breast (repeatedly breaks suction or makes clicking noises while nursing)

Your baby’s tongue curls under when crying, opening his mouth wide, or trying to suck

After clipping, many mothers find that latch-on is immediately more comfortable and baby is able to nurse more effectively. Some mothers and babies require a bit more effort getting a hang of latching on properly even after the procedure.

What is the white lump under my son's foreskin?

The white lump is made up of the cells that once attached his foreskin to his glans. As new cells form on the glans and the foreskin's inside fold, old cells form "pockets" that eventually work their way to the tip of the foreskin, where they can simply be wiped away. The space they occupied becomes the preputial space between the foreskin and the glans. So, if you see a white lump under your son's foreskin, you know that the separation of his foreskin and glans is occurring naturally. 








Tags: frenulum, short frenulum