title: Functional anatomy of the human vagina.
abstract: Anatomy studies normally precede physiology. While the anatomy of the penis and the biochemical and molecular regulation of erection are largely known, the exact anatomical description of the human clitoris was produced in 1998, the taxonomy of female sexual dysfunctions classified in 1999, and biochemistry of female excitation described only in 2002. There are various reasons for this. Female sexual physiology is much more complex than that of the male, and cultural and religious considerations have discouraged the scientific study of female sexuality. However, it is now apparent that modern sexology cannot be truly 'medical' if female sexual anatomy and the physiology of female sexual response are unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, 1st University of Rome, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Amati
authors.forename: C R T
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: di Gioia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Proietti Pannunzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pistilli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carosa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jannini
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D002987:Clitoris / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human