title: Anatomy and physiology of genital organs - men.
abstract: Male sexual functions involve a number of organs and structures in genitalia whose role is to produce fertilizing gametes and to allow female-partner insemination. The testes belong to the reproductive and endocrine systems as they synthesize spermatozoa and androgens, and are under finely regulated hormonal control by the hypothalamopituitary axis. Sexual responses are controlled by a complex and coordinated interplay of both the somatic and the autonomic nervous system in multiple components of the brain, spinal cord, and relevant peripheral organs. Erectile bodies are an essential element of the penis and engorgement of the penis with blood leads to penile tumescence. Blood engorgement is due to relaxation of smooth-muscle cells of erectile tissue and endothelium of the penile arteries. The penis gains additional rigidity when the ischiocavernosus muscles contract. Stimuli from peripheral and/or central origins activate particular spinal nuclei, causing penile erection. Ejaculation consists of two phases, emission and expulsion, which correspond, respectively, to secretion of the different components of the semen by sex glands and forceful expulsion of semen due to rhythmic contractions of the bulbospongiosus muscle. A spinal generator of ejaculation integrates genital stimuli and sexual cues and, when the excitatory threshold is reached, triggers ejaculation by orchestrating the activation of autonomic and somatic pathways commanding the peripheral events of ejaculation.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Versailles-St. Quentin en Yvelines, Montigny le Bretonneux, France; Pelvipharm Laboratories, Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Versailles-St. Quentin en Yvelines, Montigny le Bretonneux, France; Pelvipharm Laboratories, Montigny le Bretonneux, France; Neuro-Uro-Andrology, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France. Electronic address: francois.giuliano@uvsq.fr.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giuliano
mesh_terms: D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: central nervous system; ejaculation; erection; innervation; penis; perineal muscles; sex glands