Ch. 8: Sexual Arousal Flashcards
vasocongestion
build up of blood in the blood vessels in genital region
myotonia
muscle contractions
stages of sexual response
1- excitement
2- late excitement (plateau)
3- orgasm
4- resolution
male, excitement phase
unstimulated state–> partially stimulated–> fully stimulated
- cowpers gland secretion
- color deepens
- prostate enlarges
- scrotum thickens
- testis increase in size
male, orgasm stages
1- vas, seminal vesicles, prostate contract
2- penis contracts (urethra specifically)
male, resolution
- erection disappears
- unstimulated state
- testes descend
- loss of testicular congestion
- scrotum thins
- can’t be re-aroused following orgasm
female, excitement phase
- vaginal lubrication appears
- clitoris enlarges
- labia swell
- uterus elevates
- vagina expands
- orgasmic platform (bulbospongiosus muscle contracts)
- color change in labia
- clitoris retracts
- uterus elevates further
female, orgasm
- contractions in uterus
- rectal sphincter
- rhythmic sphincter contracts
- rhythmic contractions of orgasmic platform
female, resolution
- uterus lowers
- vagina returns to normal size
- orgasmic platform disappears
female, refractory
- no refractory period
- multiple orgasms possible
breast responses
- size increases
- nipple becomes erect
- superficial veins become more visible
Other female sexual responses
excitement: nipple erection
orgasm: carpopedal spasms; increase in heart rate, blood pressure
resolution: sweating, hyperpigmentation
advances in male sexual physiology
anatomy: spinal reflex
erection: penis relaxation of smooth muscles around the arteries (vasodilation)
what are the 3 neurons in the spinal reflex?
1- receptor (in penis)
2- transmitter (sacral erection center (S2-4))
3- effector (increase blood flow to penis)
smooth relaxation in penis pathway
Nitric oxide (NO)–> cGMP–> muscle relaxation around the arteries in penis
what is PDE5 and what does it do?
PDE5 is an enzyme that degrades cGMP which controls muscle relaxation around arteries
viagra selectively inhibits what?
PDE5 so that muscles around arteries in penis do not relax
what are criticisms of masters & johnson?
- sampling (needs to be more random)
- ignore condition & emotion
kaplan: triphasic model (component process)
- sexual desire
- vasocongestion (parasympathetic)
- myotonia (sympathetic)
Sexual Excitation-Inhibition Model
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana Uni
- also called Dual-Control Model
- 2 basic processes in sexual response
- -excitation
- -inhibition
- need a balance of the 2
- -high excitation, low inhibition–> risky behavior
- -low excitation, high inhibition–> sexual disorders
g-spot
- grafenberg spot
- -skene’s gland or female prostate
- female ejaculation
- controversial
pheremones
- biochemical secreted outside the body
- some are sex attractants- animal research
menstrual synchrony
- women living together , over a year, start to have periods at the same time
- potentially due to vomeronasal organ (a chemoreceptor)
stern & mcckintock (1998)
what they did: female donors wore cotton pads under pits to collect secretions (before ovulation and in late luteal phase). subjects wore cotton pads like a necklace
results:
Group 1 had an early LH surge
Group 2 had a delayed LH surge
conclusion: experience effects biology
