The physiology of penile erection. II. Neurophysiology of penile erection
Jünemann, K.P.; Lue, T.F.; Melchior, H.
Der Urologe. Ausg. a 26(5): 289-293
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-2592 PMID: 3686765 Document Number: 300220
Selective cavernous and pudendal nerve stimulation enabled us to study the neurophysiologic-/neurovascular mechanisms of penile erection in 6 monkeys. Corporeal pressure recordings during different neurostimulation patterns demonstrated that tumescence and erection are controlled by the autonomic nervous system (Nn. cavernosi) and has to be understood as the vascular phase of erection. However, rigidity is related to the muscle tone of the striated bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles which are innervated by somatomotoric fibers of the pudendal nerve. This mechanism is defined as the muscular phase of penile erection.