Human penile hemodynamics studied by a polarographic method.
Observations of the tissue oxygen tension alteration were made using an open tip type oxygen electrode polarographic method as an index of blood flow change in the penile skin, corpus cavernosum and thigh skin of 16 males aged 20-26 years (average age: 20.5 years). In another five males aged 18-21 (average age: 19.8 years) the relationship between corpus cavernosum tissue oxygen tension alteration and penile circumference change in the erection process was observed. This relation was obtained in the penile circulation model, and penile hemodynamics were ascertained. In the flaccid penis the corpus cavernosum contains low-oxygen blood and there is a blockade at the vascular tree in the corpus cavernosum. In the tumescence phase the blood flow of the corpus cavernosum increased suddenly by the relief of cavernosum vascular blockade. During the penile tumescence phase the increased inflow and outflow persisted in corpus cavernosum, and in penile skin the blood also increased initially, but gradually decreased as penile circumference increased. After erection was attained it is thought that resistance to inflow occurred by outflow pathway contraction. In the detumescence phase, a decrease of inflow and a concomitant increase of outflow occurred and the reopening of outflow is thought to be necessary for prompt penile detumescence.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010410:Penile Erection; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D011048:Polarography / Q000379:methods; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D013848:Thigh
D010100:Oxygen