I always found it fascintaing that the eskimos have 5 different names for snow - they are so familiar with snow that they can distinguish 5 diferent varieties.

The sheer lack of terminology which exists regarding circumcision and phimosis is a clear sign of the taboo on this subject. The process of naming is a clear sign of cultural recognition.

The word phimotic ring was first recorded in 1994, previously there was no name for this common phenomenon. Some common experiences (like the frenulum ripping) are unnamed, some conditions (phimotic ring or adhesions) have no internationally recognised name, and if there is a name (circumcision, phimosis or adhesions) then you can bet it has at least two different meanings.

The word circumcision itself is used to refer to a variety of completely different male and female genital operations and anthropologists freely refer to dorsal slits and other genital operations as forms of male circumcision.(47), (87).

Medical attention is concentrated on infections in the genital area. Here there are two names LSA. BXO which refer to one infection. The degree of recognition which has developed for infections is illustrated by: Balanitis chronica circumscripta plasmecellularis benigna,... which is all the name of just one infection!

If we agree that the lack of clear namings is one of the symptoms of a taboo, then it follows, that as the namings get less clear we will arrive at the origin of the taboo: - and, to break the taboo, first we need clear namings.

Phimosis
Phimosis comes from the Greek "to muzzle". It is so often used today as a general term that it has become irrelevant for specific diagnosis or clear distinctions

INFANT PHIMOSIS
This general word phimosis seems appropriate for the non-pathological (not needing treatment) tubular form of an infant phimosis.

Adhesions applies to many different complaints, mostly internal ones. Alone when referring to the penis, medical texts use the word adhesions in two different ways: skin bridges and epithelial adhesions.

SKIN BRIDGES (or acrochordons)
"True" or "acquired" adhesions are colloquially called skin bridges or skin tags. The word "bridge" describes the appearance and so is the recommended term. (astounding that there is an internationally accepted specific latin name, only with this secondary condition : acrochordons)

EPITHELIAL ADHESIONS (or Infant Adhesions)
On the other hand there are the so-called "natural" adhesions which refer to the sticky layer between the foreskin and glans of an infant. The term infant adhesions appears to be an appropriate colloquial term. - Campbell's Urology, (the urologists "Bible"), calls them epithelial adhesions. (Oxford dictionary: Epithelium: the tissue .... lining the alimentary canal and other hollow structures)

FRENULUM BREVE
Most doctors call the frenulum or frenum simply "the band". "The short band" itself has no internationally accepted name.

German doctors call it "Frenulum Breve" and this seems to have good sense then: latin: - frenulum is the diminutive of frenum: a bridle, so frenulum indicates a small bridle: breve means short therefore Frenulum Breve describes perfectly when this small bridle is too short.

PHIMOTIC RING.
This term was first used in 1994 (Cuckow) and is confirmed by Campbell's Urology (the urologists Bible) in 1998. Apart from this, there is no word to describe this ring of gristly skin which is embedded just inside the opening of the inner foreskin. One could suggest the "phimotic noose" as this is more accurately the shape of this contour of skin.

Even with a partial or relative phimosis in the flaccid state, this phimotic ring can be accurately diagnosed.

The terms primary and secondary are normal medical usage, natural and acquired are occasionally used. primary phimotic ring denotes a condition from birth, whereas an acquired or secondary phimotic ring has developed in the course of time.

PLEASE AVOID using the term THE FRENAR BAND
I beseach those interested in clarity and education to avoid using the word "frenar band". The phimotic ring is referred to by hundreds of anti circumcision www sites as the frenar band. The word frenar can easily be confused with frenulum.

I believe if this had been planned to prolonge the chaos for doctors and patients for another twenty years, then it could not have been better planned.

Please confirm rather than confuse present usage even when using shortened colloquial terms: the term ring or noose is descriptive of the phimotic ring just as band is descriptive of the frenular band.

The invention of new words belongs to the ethos of many fanatical groups - I say again - Routine Infant Circumcision is abhorant, unfortunately those campaigning against RIC, motivated by self righteousness have become angry, fanatical and aginst all operations, it is ironical that now they are damaging their cause by developing and spreading new confusions. (see debate)