penile erection
Sign in to saveAn erection (clinically: penile erection or penile tumescence) is a physiological phenomenon in which the penis becomes firm, engorged, and enlarged. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular, and endocrine factors, and is often associated with sexual arousal, sexual attraction or libido, although erections can also be spontaneous. The shape, angle, and direction of an erection vary considerably between humans.
AI overview
A penile erection is a physiological process in which the penis becomes firm, enlarged, and engorged due to a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular, and endocrine factors. While erections are often associated with sexual arousal or attraction, they can also occur spontaneously, and their shape, angle, and direction vary considerably from person to person.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Anatomy.Name
- Erection blood vessels
- Anatomy.Image
- File:A Erect human penis.JPG
- Anatomy.Caption
- Erection of an uncircumcised male human
- Anatomy.Image2
- Figure 28 01 06.jpg
- Anatomy.Caption2
- Three columns of erectile tissue make up most of the volume of the penis.
- Anatomy.Width
- 270
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Physiology
- Autonomic control
- Voluntary and involuntary control
- Nocturnal erection
- Socio-sexual aspects
- Social
- Spontaneous or random erections
- Size
- Direction
- Medical conditions
- Erectile dysfunction
- Priapism
- Hard flaccid syndrome
- Other animals
- Terminology
- See also
- References
An erection (clinically: penile erection or penile tumescence) is a physiological phenomenon in which the penis becomes firm, engorged, and enlarged. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular, and endocrine factors, and is often associated with sexual arousal, sexual attraction or libido, although erections can also be spontaneous. The shape, angle, and direction of an erection vary considerably between humans.
Physiologically, an erection is required for a male to effect penetration or sexual intercourse and is triggered by the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, causing the levels of nitric oxide (a vasodilator) to rise in the trabecular arteries and smooth muscle of the penis. The arteries dilate causing the corpora cavernosa of the penis (and to a lesser extent the corpus spongiosum) to fill with blood; simultaneously the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles compress the veins of the corpora cavernosa restricting the egress and circulation of this blood. Erection subsides when parasympathetic activity reduces to baseline.