Sexual Response Flashcards
what are the 2 main physiological sexual responses?
myotonia (increased muscle tension)
vasocongestion (increased blood flow)
what are the 4 stages of sexual response?
Excitement (arousal)
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution
erection is mainly a _________ reflex
parasympathetic (S2-S4)
what causes erection in a man’s penis?
vasodilation of teh arterioles from relaxation of arteriolar smooth muscle
what is priapism?
erect penis or clitoris can’t return to flaccid state, despite absence of both physical & psychological stimulation w/i 4 hours (medical emergency)
what are the phases to the male sexual response?
Erection
Emission
Ejaculation
Ejaculation is coordinated in the __________spinal cord at what spinal level
lumbar spinal cord at L1-L2
what is emission?
rhythmic contractions of smooth muscle of epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles & prostate–>prostatic urethra (moving the sperm into the urethra)
what is ejaculation?
moving the sperm from inside the urethra to out
Ejaculation is controlled by what nerve?
pudendal nerves
how do you prevent retrograde ejaculation?
by contraction of internal & external urethral sphincters
what happens to breasts during the excitement phase of a female sexual response?
erection of nipple
breasts become engorged with blood
what happens to breasts during the plateau phase of female sexual response?
areolae of breast become swollen
breasts increase in size
what happens in the vagina during the excitement phase?
vaginal lubrication
late: vaginal size increase
what is the orgasmic platform?
during the plateau phase of the female sexual response there is local swelling due to vasocongestion happening in the outer-third of the vagina (creates 50% reduction in diameter of lumen of vagina)
what happens in female right after the orgasmic platoform is lost?
the cervix drops from the elevated position it attained during excitement phase down into the pool of semen
what happens in female pelvis during plateau phase?
uterine elevation, tenting effect, full vaginal expansion, labia minora size increase, clitoral body elevation
what happens in female pelvis during orgasm?
contractions of uterus
rectal sphincter contracts
rhythmic contractions in orgasmic platform
what happens in the female pelvis during resolution phase?
uterus lowers
vagina returns to normal
orgasmic platform disappears
cervix dips into the pool of semen at anterior end of vagina
what is the purpose of the orgasmic platform?
to retain semen in the vagina
how does blood pressure & heart rate change during sexual activity?
increase in BP, increase in HR
how does respiration and sweating change during sexual activity?
respiration increased to 40/min
sweating also increased
