Hypospadias is a relatively common anomaly of the male external genitalia, occurring in approximately 1 in 300 male infants. Hypospadias results from the failure of the urogenital folds to close due to inadequate androgen production or inadequate hormone receptors. The result of the urogenital folds not closing completely is that the spongy urethra does not form completely. The exact form of the anomaly is dependent upon where the closure fails to occur. The different locations at which failure occasions give hypospadias a variety of "types".
Glandular hypospadias is one of the more common types and occurs when the external urethral orifice is on the ventral surface of the glans.
Penile hypospadias is also relatively common and occurs when the external urethral orifice is on the ventral surface of the penis itself.
Two other, less common, forms of hypospadias are: penoscrotal hypospadias and perineal hypospadias.