Changes: Erection (penis)

Latest revision as of 15:03, 27 October 2013

Biological: Behavioural genetics · Evolutionary psychology · Neuroanatomy · Neurochemistry · Neuroendocrinology · Neuroscience · Psychoneuroimmunology · Physiological Psychology · Psychopharmacology (Index, Outline)

The erection of the penis is its enlarged and firm state. It depends on a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular and endocrine factors. The term is also applied to the process that leads to this state.

Penile erection

The pituitary gland, the prostate and testosterone all have an important role in the process of erection of a penis.

A penile erection occurs when two tubular structures that run the length of the penis, the corpora cavernosa, become engorged with venous blood. This may result from any of various physiological stimuli. The corpus spongiosum is a single tubular structure located just below the corpora cavernosa, which contains the urethra, through which urine and semen pass during urination and ejaculation, respectively. This may also become slightly engorged with blood, but less so than the corpora cavernosa.

Penile erection usually results from sexual stimulation and/or arousal, but can also occur by such causes as a full urinary bladder or spontaneously during the course of a day or at night, often during erotic or wet dreams (see "nocturnal penile tumescence"). An erection results in swelling and enlargement of the penis. Erection enables sexual intercourse and other sexual activities (sexual functions), though it is not essential for all sexual activities.

In the presence of mechanical stimulation, erection is initiated by the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) with minimal input from the central nervous system. Parasympathetic branches extend from the sacral plexus into the arteries supplying the erectile tissue; upon stimulation, these nerve branches initiate the release of nitric oxide, a vasodilating agent, in the target arteries. The arteries dilate, filling the corpora spongiosum and cavernosa with blood. Erection subsides when parasympathetic stimulation is discontinued; baseline stimulation from the sympathetic division of the ANS causes constriction of the penile arteries, forcing blood out of the erectile tissue. The cerebral cortex can initiate erection in the absence of direct mechanical stimulation (in response to visual, auditory, olfactory, imagined, or tactile stimuli) acting through erectile centers in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spinal cord. The cortex can suppress erection even in the presence of mechanical stimulation, as can other psychological, emotional, and environmental factors.

The opposite term is detumescence.

Assesment

Penile plethysmograph

Failure to achieve erection

Main article: Erectile dysfunction

The consistant failure to achieve an erection may diagnosed as erectile dysfunction. This can have a number of causes.

Occasional failure to achieve an erection can be due to a number of factors such as drugs, physical illness stress,etc

Age and erection problems
Alcohol and erection problems
Diabetes and erectile dysfuntion
Illegal drugs and erection problems
Physical illness and erection problems
Prescription drugs and erection problems
Stress and erection problems

Persistant erection

Under some circumsatances an erection can persist in the abscence od sexual stimulation. This is a condition known as priapism.

Bibliography

Books

Drake, Richard, Wayne Vogl and Adam Mitchell. "Grey's Anatomy for Students." Churchill-Livingston, 2004. (ISBN 0-443-06612-4)
Harris, Robie H. (et al.), It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex And Sexual Health. Boston, 1994. (ISBN 1-56402-199-8)
Milsten, Richard (et al.), The Sexual Male. Problems And Solutions. London, 2000. (ISBN 0-393-32127-4)
Tanagho, Emil A. (et al.), Smith's General Urology. London, 2000. (ISBN 0-8385-8607-4)
Williams, Warwick, It's Up To You: Overcoming Erection Problems. London, 1989. (ISBN 0-7225-1915-X)
Zilbergeld, B. (1992). The man behind the broken penis: Social and psychological determinants of erectile failure. In Erectile disorders: Assessment and treatment (pp. 27-51). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Papers

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@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ==Penile erection==
+The [[pituitary gland]], the [[prostate]] and [[testosterone]] all have an important role in the process of erection of a penis.
-[[Image:Uncircumcised_Penis.jpg|thumb|right|An uncircumcised penis flaccid (left) and erect (right)]]
+A penile erection occurs when two tubular structures that run the length of the penis, the [[corpora cavernosa]], become engorged with venous blood. This may result from any of various [[physiology|physiological]] stimuli. The ''[[corpus spongiosum]]'' is a single tubular structure located just below the ''[[corpora cavernosa]]'', which contains the [[urethra]], through which [[urine]] and [[semen]] pass during [[urination]] and [[ejaculation]], respectively. This may also become slightly engorged with blood, but less so than the corpora cavernosa.
-The [[pituitary gland]] {{Fact|date=March 2007}}, the [[prostate]] {{Fact|date=March 2007}} and [[testosterone]] all have an important role in the process of erection of a penis.
-A penile erection occurs when two tubular structures that run the length of the penis, the [[corpora cavernosa]], become engorged with venous blood. This may result from any of various [[physiology|physiological]] stimuli.   The ''[[corpus spongiosum]]'' is a single tubular structure located just below the ''[[corpora cavernosa]]'', which contains the [[urethra]], through which [[urine]] and [[semen]] pass during [[urination]] and [[ejaculation]], respectively. This may also become slightly engorged with blood, but less so than the corpora cavernosa.
 Penile erection usually results from sexual stimulation and/or arousal, but can also occur by such causes as a full urinary bladder or spontaneously during the course of a day or at night, often during erotic or wet dreams (see "nocturnal penile tumescence"). An erection results in swelling and enlargement of the penis. Erection enables [[sexual intercourse]] and other [[sexual activities]] ([[sexual function]]s), though it is not essential for all sexual activities.
-[[Image:Flaccid-erect.jpg|thumb|right|A circumcised penis flaccid (left) and erect (right)]]
-In the presence of mechanical stimulation, erection is initiated by the [[parasympathetic]] division of the [[autonomic nervous system]] (ANS) with minimal input from the central nervous system.  Parasympathetic branches extend from the [[sacral plexus]] into the [[arteries]] supplying the erectile tissue; upon stimulation, these nerve branches initiate the release of nitric oxide, a [[vasodilation|vasodilating]] agent, in the target arteries.  The arteries dilate, filling the ''corpora spongiosum'' and ''cavernosa'' with blood.  Erection subsides when parasympathetic stimulation is discontinued; baseline stimulation from the [[sympathetic nervous system|sympathetic division]] of the ANS causes constriction of the penile arteries, forcing blood out of the erectile tissue.
-The [[cerebral cortex]] can initiate erection in the absence of direct mechanical stimulation (in response to visual, auditory, olfactory, imagined, or tactile stimuli) acting through erectile centers in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spinal cord.  The cortex can suppress erection even in the presence of mechanical stimulation, as can other psychological, emotional, and environmental factors.
+In the presence of mechanical stimulation, erection is initiated by the [[parasympathetic]] division of the [[autonomic nervous system]] (ANS) with minimal input from the central nervous system. Parasympathetic branches extend from the [[sacral plexus]] into the [[arteries]] supplying the erectile tissue; upon stimulation, these nerve branches initiate the release of nitric oxide, a [[vasodilation|vasodilating]] agent, in the target arteries. The arteries dilate, filling the ''corpora spongiosum'' and ''cavernosa'' with blood. Erection subsides when parasympathetic stimulation is discontinued; baseline stimulation from the [[sympathetic nervous system|sympathetic division]] of the ANS causes constriction of the penile arteries, forcing blood out of the erectile tissue.
-The opposite term is [[wikt:detumescence|detumescence]].
+The [[cerebral cortex]] can initiate erection in the absence of direct mechanical stimulation (in response to visual, auditory, olfactory, imagined, or tactile stimuli) acting through erectile centers in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spinal cord. The cortex can suppress erection even in the presence of mechanical stimulation, as can other psychological, emotional, and environmental factors.
+The opposite term is [[detumescence]].
-==Culture==
-In many countries, movies and magazines available to juveniles may not depict penile erection; such depictions are often taken as one criterion to distinguish between soft and hard [[pornography]]. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
+==Assesment==
+*[[Penile plethysmograph]]
+==Failure to achieve erection==
+{{Main| Erectile dysfunction}}
+The consistant failure to achieve an erection may diagnosed as [[erectile dysfunction]]. This can have a number of causes.
+Occasional failure to achieve an erection can be due to a number of factors such as drugs, physical illness stress,etc
+*[[Age and erection problems]]
+*[[Alcohol and erection problems]]
+*[[Diabetes and erectile dysfuntion]]
+*[[Illegal drugs and erection problems]]
+*[[Physical illness and erection problems]]
+*[[Prescription drugs and erection problems]]
+*[[Stress and erection problems]]
+==Persistant erection==
+Under some circumsatances an erection can persist in the abscence od sexual stimulation. This is a condition known as [[priapism]].
 ==See also==
 * [[Clitoral erection]]
-* [[Erectile dysfunction]]
+* [[Human penis size]]
 * [[Impotence]]
 * [[Nipple erection]]
-* [[Priapism]]
+* [[Penis enlargement]]
+* [[Priaprism]]
 * [[Sexual function]]
 ==Bibliography==
+==Books==
+*Drake, Richard, Wayne Vogl and Adam Mitchell. "Grey's Anatomy for Students." Churchill-Livingston, 2004. (ISBN 0-443-06612-4)
 *Harris, Robie H. (et al.), ''It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex And Sexual Health''. Boston, 1994. (ISBN 1-56402-199-8)
 *Milsten, Richard (et al.), ''The Sexual Male. Problems And Solutions''. London, 2000. (ISBN 0-393-32127-4)
 *Tanagho, Emil A. (et al.), ''Smith's General Urology''. London, 2000. (ISBN 0-8385-8607-4)
 *Williams, Warwick, ''It's Up To You: Overcoming Erection Problems''. London, 1989. (ISBN 0-7225-1915-X)
+*Zilbergeld, B. (1992). The man behind the broken penis: Social and psychological determinants of erectile failure. In Erectile disorders: Assessment and treatment (pp. 27-51). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
-*Drake, Richard, Wayne Vogl and Adam Mitchell.  "Grey's Anatomy for Students."  Churchill-Livingston, 2004. (ISBN 0-443-06612-4)
+==Papers==
-[[Category:Penis]]
-[[Category:Psychosexual behavior]]
-[[Category:Sexual arousal]]
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 {{enWP|Erection}}
+[[Category:Erection (penis)]]
+[[Category:Penis]]
+[[Category:Psychosexual behavior]]
+[[Category:Sexual arousal]]