The groove on the dorsal aspect of the penis extending from the urethral meatus is an abnormality termed epispadias. Epispadias is a congenital anomaly in which the urethra opens dorsally on the penis. (Hypospadias is an abnormal urethral opening on the ventral aspect of the penis.) If the opening is on the dorsal aspect of a broad and flattened glans, the condition is called glandular epispadias, and incontinence is rare. If the urethral meatus is located between the pubic symphysis and coronal sulcus, it is classifed as the penile type of epispadias. When the urethral opening is at the penopubic junction and the entire penis has a dorsal groove extending through the glans, the term penopublic epispadias is applied. These latter two forms of epispadias are often accompanied by incontinence. Epispadias is rare--about 1 in 30,000 live births.

Many years ago the man Nanahoa lived with his wife Kawahuna on the island of Moloka'i. One day Nanahoa was admiring a young girl who was staring at her reflection in a pool of water. His wife became jealous and began pulling the young girl's hair. Nanahoa, in anger, struck his wife, sending her rolling down the hill of Puu Lua, where she turned to stone. Nanahoa himself turned to stone, and a portion of him, shown here (Ka Ule o Nanahoa), is still visible. Note the congenital anomaly.