Ch. 8: Sexual Arousal

Question 1

vasocongestion

Answer 1

build up of blood in the blood vessels in genital region

Question 2

myotonia

Answer 2

muscle contractions

Question 3

stages of sexual response

Answer 3

1- excitement
2- late excitement (plateau)
3- orgasm
4- resolution

Question 4

male, excitement phase

Answer 4

unstimulated state–> partially stimulated–> fully stimulated

• cowpers gland secretion
• color deepens
• prostate enlarges
• scrotum thickens
• testis increase in size

Question 5

male, orgasm stages

Answer 5

1- vas, seminal vesicles, prostate contract

2- penis contracts (urethra specifically)

Question 6

male, resolution

Answer 6

• erection disappears
• unstimulated state
• testes descend
• loss of testicular congestion
• scrotum thins
• can’t be re-aroused following orgasm

Question 7

female, excitement phase

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

female, orgasm

Answer 8

• contractions in uterus
• rectal sphincter
• rhythmic sphincter contracts
• rhythmic contractions of orgasmic platform

Question 9

female, resolution

Answer 9

• uterus lowers
• vagina returns to normal size
• orgasmic platform disappears

Question 10

female, refractory

Answer 10

• no refractory period

- multiple orgasms possible

Question 11

breast responses

Answer 11

• size increases
• nipple becomes erect
• superficial veins become more visible

Question 12

Other female sexual responses

Answer 12

excitement: nipple erection
orgasm: carpopedal spasms; increase in heart rate, blood pressure
resolution: sweating, hyperpigmentation

Question 13

advances in male sexual physiology

Answer 13

anatomy: spinal reflex
erection: penis relaxation of smooth muscles around the arteries (vasodilation)

Question 14

what are the 3 neurons in the spinal reflex?

Answer 14

1- receptor (in penis)
2- transmitter (sacral erection center (S2-4))
3- effector (increase blood flow to penis)

Question 15

smooth relaxation in penis pathway

Answer 15

Nitric oxide (NO)–> cGMP–> muscle relaxation around the arteries in penis

Question 16

what is PDE5 and what does it do?

Answer 16

PDE5 is an enzyme that degrades cGMP which controls muscle relaxation around arteries

Question 17

viagra selectively inhibits what?

Answer 17

PDE5 so that muscles around arteries in penis do not relax

Question 18

what are criticisms of masters & johnson?

Answer 18

• sampling (needs to be more random)

- ignore condition & emotion

Question 19

kaplan: triphasic model (component process)

Answer 19

• sexual desire
• vasocongestion (parasympathetic)
• myotonia (sympathetic)

Question 20

Sexual Excitation-Inhibition Model

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

g-spot

Answer 21

• grafenberg spot
• -skene’s gland or female prostate
• female ejaculation
• controversial

Question 22

pheremones

Answer 22

• biochemical secreted outside the body

- some are sex attractants- animal research

Question 23

menstrual synchrony

Answer 23

• women living together , over a year, start to have periods at the same time
• potentially due to vomeronasal organ (a chemoreceptor)

Question 24

stern & mcckintock (1998)

Answer 24

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

Question 25

activating effects

Answer 25

hormones activate sexual desire, behavior

Question 26

male activating effects

Answer 26

testosterone effects desire

• antiandrogen drugs–> decreased desire
• T surge at puberty

Question 27

women activating effects

Answer 27

testosterone (both ovarian & adrenal androgens) effects on desire
-adrenalectomy–> decreased sexual desire