Erections penis

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 or sexual attractionalthough erections can also be spontaneous. The shape, angle, and direction of an erection varies considerably in humans.

Sergio Diez Alvarez does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under Creative Commons licence. Morning penile erections affect all males, even males in the womb and male children.

An erection problem occurs when a man cannot get or keep an erection that is firm enough for intercourse. You may not be able to get an erection at all. Or, you may lose the erection during intercourse before you are ready.

Erectionalso called Penile Erectionenlargement, hardening, and elevation of the male reproductive organthe penis. Internally, the penis has three long masses of cylindrical tissue, known as erectile tissue, that are bound together by fibrous tissue. The two identical areas running along the sides of the penis are termed corpora cavernosa ; the third mass, known as the corpus spongiosumlies below the corpora cavernosa, surrounds the urethra— a tube that transports either urine or semen ,—and extends forward to form the tip or glans of the penis.

The penis contains two cylindrical, sponge-like structures corpora cavernosa. When a male becomes sexually aroused, nerve impulses increase blood flow to both cylinders. This sudden influx of blood causes an erection by expanding, straightening and stiffening the penis.

The molecular and clinical understanding of erectile function continues to gain ground at a particularly fast rate. Intensive research has yielded many advances. The understanding of the nitric oxide pathway has aided not only in the molecular understanding of the tumescence but also aided greatly in the therapy of erectile dysfunction.

When the blood vessels of the corpora cavernosa relax and open up, blood rushes in through the cavernosus arteries to fill them. The blood then gets trapped under high pressure, creating an erection. Sexual stimulation and friction provide the impulses that are delivered to the spinal cord and into the brain.