Male Sexual Organ Physiology: Understanding the Nature and Types of Penile Erection
**Male Urogenital Physiological Characteristics**
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Understanding Male-Specific Functions
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Physiological characteristics of male sex organs
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The anatomical and physiological characteristics of men themselves determine the differences between men and women; these are the most fundamental features of the differences between the sexes.
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These also determine the differences between men and women in the spiritual realm, such as their ways of thinking, aesthetic views, and orientations towards love. Of course, the differences between men and women in the spiritual realm are limited and minor, with similarities being the mainstream.
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The following explanation aims to help men understand themselves, recognize their bodies, and better protect and care for themselves.
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**1.1//How to understand the mysterious phenomenon of penile erection?**
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**1.1.1** What is the essence of penile erection?
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Many men have experienced this: sometimes their penis is swollen and hard (an erection) when they wake up in the morning. What causes this?
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We can recall that morning penile erections are often accompanied by a feeling of needing to urinate, meaning that morning penile erections are related to bladder fullness. What is the reason for this?
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Let's understand the causes of penile erection. First, we learn from anatomy that the penis is composed of three columnar corpora cavernosa, which are actually blood sinuses. The beginning and end of penile erection is the process of the corpora cavernosa accumulating blood.
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When sexually stimulated, the nerve endings controlling the penis release substances called neurotransmitters, which are similar to hormones. These neurotransmitters cause the blood vessels in the penis to dilate, resulting in more blood flowing into the penis than out, thus producing an erection. After intercourse, as the neurotransmitters are metabolized and the dilation of blood vessels disappears, the blood flow back from the penis accelerates, and the erection disappears.
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Note: After sexual stimulation, the neurotransmitter produced by the nerve endings of the penis is nitric oxide, which can cause muscle relaxation, vasodilation, and erection.
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> **1.1.2** **Stages of Penile Erection**
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The erection process of the penis is divided into five stages:
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> (1) Relaxation period: that is, the non-erect state, which is the normal state of the penis.
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(2) Swelling phase: The blood flow into the penis is greater than the blood flow out of the penis, and the penis begins to erect.
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(3) Fully erect: During this period, the penis is fully erect, but arterial blood still flows into the penis.
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(4) Tonic phase: Blood flow to and from the penis stops, and the pressure inside the penis reaches its maximum.
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> (5) Swelling subsidence period: During this period, venous return increases, intrapenile pressure decreases, and the penis becomes flaccid.
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The swelling regression period is further divided into the initial regression period, the slow regression period, and the rapid regression period.
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> **1.1.3** **Types of Penile Erection**
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> (1) Reflex erection: It is a penile erection caused by direct stimulation of the penis or surrounding tissues.
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> (2) Psychogenic erection: It is caused by the stimulation of the brain by hearing, vision, smell and hallucination, which leads to penile erection. This type of erection is more common in young people and less common in the elderly.
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(3) Nocturnal erection: Penile erection during sleep. Almost all healthy men have this type of erection, from the elderly to infants. The presence or absence of nocturnal erection can help determine whether erectile dysfunction is caused by a disease of the penis itself.
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> **1.1.4** **The Influence of Age on Penile Erection**
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It is well known that penile erection weakens with age, and this decline is reflected in both the frequency and intensity of penile erections.
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Secondly, as men age, the stimulation required for an erection becomes stronger, while the intensity, duration, and frequency of orgasms decrease with age, including nocturnal erections. However, many healthy men maintain an erection throughout their lives.
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**1.1.3** **The Effect of Male Hormones on Penile Erection**
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Male hormones, also known as androgens, mainly include follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, and androgens secreted by the testes. There are many other hormones, which will not be elaborated here.
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Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the testes to secrete androgen-binding protein, while luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates the testes to synthesize androgens.
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Androgen levels are crucial for maintaining normal libido and also have a significant impact on erectile function.
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In ancient China, eunuchs had their testicles and part of their penis removed, resulting in almost no sex hormones in their bodies, significantly reduced libido, and the penile stump rarely erected.
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Studies have shown that androgens increase erectile rigidity and maintain normal libido without affecting erection frequency.
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