What is an erection?
“Erection” is the term used to describe the male sex organ becoming rigid in anticipation of sexual activities. It is the principal sign of sexual arousal in men, and it begins in the brain. But how exactly does this phenomenon work?
How do erections work? The biological and physiological causes
When you see, feel, smell, or think something that triggers the start of sexual excitement, an erection may start to occur.
The penis comprises of two chambers called the corpora cavernosa. They occupy the space from the tip of the penis to deep inside the pelvis. The inside of the corpora cavernosa is formed of a spongy, capillary-dense tissue that can fill up with blood to increase in size.
In a normal, non-excited state, there are valves at the base of the penis that remain almost completely shut. This means that the arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the penis are only partially open and blood flow is limited.
What makes a penis hard when a man is sexually excited?
Once sexual excitation begins, nerves transmit signals along neural pathways in the brain, extending down the spinal cord to the rest of the body. How to Use Kamagra for a Better Erection: Learning When to Take It. A hormonal response is created, resulting in the full opening of the arteries to the penis. A chain reaction begins whereby more arterial blood enters the penis than can leave through its veins, eventually compressing the veins entirely, trapping the blood in the penis and causing a full erection. This is what makes a penis hard during arousal.
Once the brain ceases transmitting the signals of sexual arousal, the valves will close and the penis returns to its normal, flaccid state.
The reason for erections is simple – A flaccid cock cannot penetrate a vagina reliably. Evolutionarily speaking, it would not have helped our ancestors survival rates to be walking around with their most valuable reproductionary apparatus at full mast.
How does ejaculation work on a physical level?
Ejaculation is the process by which a packet of a man’s genetic information is passed to the woman to fertilize the female egg cell, known as the ovum. This process is necessary for procreation, and the resultant offspring will share half of their DNA with the mother, and half with the father.
All mammals have a tube called the epididymis which connects the testes to the vas deferens (a small muscular tube connected to the ejaculatory duct). At the point of climax, the epididymis contracts, pushing sperm from the testicles into the vas deferens. Nerves then stimulate the prostate into contracting, which propels a mix of sperm and other fluids called semen into the urethra.
Here’s exactly what happens during the male orgasm
There are five physiological steps involved in the male orgasm. Excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution. Here’s what will happen at each point:
- Excitement. Arousal begins in the brain. The male perceives or thinks about something or someone that ignites desire. That desire causes neurons in the brain to fire signals down to the sexual apparatus, which results in an erection due to the steps outlined above. Other physiological characteristics of this step are:
An increase in muscle tension
A raised heart rate
Nipples become erect
- Plateau. The preparatory phase before orgasm. The changes in step 1 continue and increase in intensity. Involuntary movements, especially around the pelvic region, begin to dominate, and a fluid is secreted into the urethra to alter the pH, improving the chances of successful insemination.
- Orgasm. Male orgasm occurs in two distinct phases. Most men will be familiar with the sensation of reaching a “point of no return”. This stage of ejaculation is called emission and is when semen becomes deposited at the base of the urethra. The second stage, ejaculation, involves the sudden involuntary contraction of the muscles at the bottom of the penis and in the perineum. Messages are sent to the brain triggering the release of a potent cocktail of endorphins that result in the pleasurable feeling of coming.
- Resolution. During this phase, the body returns to homeostasis. Valves to the penis open, the erection fades, and the penis returns to its regular, flaccid state. Most men require time between orgasms, known as a refractory period, and generally, this increases with age.