Penis Erection Explained
While the process of penis erection may look pretty simple and straightforward, it is far more complicated than that. No matter if we’re talking about erection of penis or clitoris - the process is pretty much the same and equally complex since it is guided by both central nervous system (CNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). To make it simple, the erection depends on both conscious and subconscious mental and physiological processes.
The most common types of stimulation for men are based on visual (female attributes), auditory (female voice), olfactory (female perfume, pheromones), imagined or tactile stimuli that tell the cerebral cortex (CNS) to begin the erection process. The erectile centers located in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spinal cord then tell the nerves in the pubic area to start releasing nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is simple chemical compound widely used by all mammals as a signaling molecule in order to transmit information from one cell to another. While the penile arteries become dilated in volume to bring in more blood into penis, the penile veins constrict in order to diminish the amount of blood that leaves the penis.
When the nitric oxide is released, the arteries that supply the penis with blood dilate and allow a bigger than usual quantity of blood to enter the penis. The blood goes into stretchable Corpora Cavernosa, the two sponge-like tissue forms that are designed to expand in size and hold as much blood as possible.
The entire process is handled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) with minimal input from the central nervous system. When the stimulation ends, the ANS makes the arteries constrict and forces blood out of the penis.
It is quite obvious that the size of penis erection depends on Corpora Cavernosa capacity. The best penis enlargement techniques are based on enlarging Corpora Cavernosa capacity.
Although the cerebral cortex is not involved in every type of stimulation that causes erection, it can put an end to any erection if it judges that the situation requires such action. This is why men and women have to avoid things that can kill the mood and turn them off.
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There is also a vast number of psychological factors that can effect the erection. They will be discussed later in this blog.