This is one of the frequently circulating topics on this forum and in fact on the other medical forums as well. People especially un-married remains very much concerned about this organ "Penis". For most of men discussing about penis is embarrassing since they consider it one of their private parts, however; with respect of general human body, it is also an organ which has some specified functions. Their shyness and coving these organs is a natural phenomenon that they have acquired from the surroundings (Learned Behavior). A new born child doesn't have any sense about that. With the passage of time when he grows up he learns many things including shyness, modesty etc. The purpose of discussing this topic is mainly due to the frequent quarries regarding the impotence, erectile dysfunction, its treatment and misconceptions that come up more often on the forum.

 Main Functions of Penis:

Nature has designed penis for two main purposes:

1. Excretion, that is passage of urine
2. Copulation, Ejaculation of semen in the female body for reproduction.

Since this topic is coving mainly the portion of erectile dysfunction therefore, I am bound to put the light over the second main function of penis only.

Basic Structure of Penis:

Give a look on brief description of penis in order to understand this whole topic. Penis is a cylindrical, elongated structure situated below the pubis between the thighs. After puberty, the size of the penis goes to enlarge since then nature prepares a man for the second and most important function which is called as reproduction.  Penis does not have any specialized structures except bunches or muscles that are rapped in circular and longitudinal directions. There are two types of muscles in the penis, 1.  Corpus spongiosum which are encircled around the long urethra or urine tube. This is a big bunch of muscles that contributes to the thickness of the penis.  The second type of muscular bunch is called as 2.  Corpus Cavernosum which is situated at the top of Corpus Spongiosum, adding further the bulk in the thickness of penis. This bunch of muscle is mainly functions while the process of erection. Beside these two types of muscles, nothing is there inside the penis.

 Sensitivities of the Penis:

Extremely sensitive nerves are present on the skin of the penis that are directly connected with the higher mental functions in the brain and hypothalamus. For description we can divide the walls of the penis in four portions and a cap on the penis called Glans Penis. 1. The upper wall, that faces the sky in erected penis, is very much less sensitive zone. A man gets long time for arousal if this wall is stimulated. Ejaculation can't happen on its stimulation only. The reason of less sensitivity of the upper wall could be the presence of the bunch of muscles inside the upper wall previously discussed called as Corpus Cavernosum and less nerves on that part. 2 and 3, the side walls on left and right facing thighs of respective sides. Again these walls are also less sensitive however; these walls have increased sensitivities as compared to the upper walls. Ejaculation after sexual arousal can happen when prolonged stimulation would be done on the side walls. 4, The lower and inner wall of the penis is extremely sensitive. This wall faces the floor in erect posture.  Ejaculation could happen with in minutes or seconds after stimulating this site. On that side near to the cap or Glans penis, a thread of loose skin is situated, which is called as Prepuce. This prepuce is the most sensitive part of whole of the human body. By its stimulation, a man ejaculates semen with in seconds with or without erection. Finally, cap or Glans penis which covers the protruding part of the penis like a cap is also sensitive but its sensitivity is less as compared to inner wall and prepuce. The urethra or urine tube is launched from the center of the Glans that predominately carries two things, 1. Urine in routine, 2. Semen while sexual arousal.

Role of Nerves in Erection and Ejaculation:

This is also essential to study the roles of nerves while discussing erection and ejaculation. Among different types of nerves in the body, there are two groups of nerves which are known as Sympathic group and Parasympathetic group.

Sympathic nerves works to prepare the body for emergency, stress and excitement. Like for instance while in emergency and excitement, one can experience following events due to sympathetic nerves:

1.  Pupils of eyes shrinks
2. Heart rate increases
3. Respiratory rate increases
4. Impending dooms, heaviness in the heart
5. Body's hairs erects
6. Sweating
7. Lack of desire of passing urine and stools
8. Constriction of blood vessels to decrease the blood in the whole body and make the blood available to the heart and brain
9. Alertness and excessive work load on higher mental functions
10. Increase emotions, excitement and aggression etc.

Whereas, Parasympathetic nerves work opposite to sympathetic nerves and make the body relaxed and comfortable. All the actions would be opposite to the previous one:

1.  Pupils dilates, instead of shrinking
2. Heart rate decreases
3. Respiratory rate decreases
4. Contentment in the heart and sense of satisfaction
5. Body hairs normalizes
6. Lack of sweating
7. Increase desire to pass urine or stools
8. Dilation of blood vessels to make blood available to the whole body and decrease it in the brain and heart
9. Mental relaxation, lack of alertness, increase sleep etc
10. Emotional satisfaction, mental relaxation etc.

How Penis Erects:

Penis erection is totally dependant upon Parasympathetic nerves. It means, once the body wants relaxation, these nerves, while providing relaxation, make once self, comfortable, decreases the heart rate, respiratory rate and gives the sense of sleepiness. During Parasympathetic activity, as discussed earlier blood vessels dilates and hence increase the blood supply, therefore; blood vessels of penis also dilates and increase the blood pooling inside the penis. The specialized muscles in the penis discussed earlier are sensitive of pooling of blood, therefore; they start to enlarge and become harder. Therefore; one can get erection in the penis as a result of following phenomenon:

 Noteworthy points:

• Penis erection is an absolutely normal phenomenon and it results due to stimulation of Parasympathetic nerves followed by pooling of blood inside the penis
• It needs relaxation, satisfaction and contentment, since Parasympathetic activity works in the environment of relaxation. Any body can't get erection in the stress and emergency.
• Similarly sexual arousal happens in the relaxed environment and mental satisfaction due to the work of Parasympathetic activity. Therefore; one can't get sexual arousal in stress and mental tension.
• Lack of confidence brings a man in mental stress sub-consciously. Therefore; in majority of cases, people develops erectile dysfunction due to the lack of confidence.
• During sleep, body gets relaxation and its Parasympathetic activity increases. Therefore; Morning and sleep erections are the signs of normality.
• Penile hardness and erection is directly related with level of self-contentment, confidence, satisfaction and relaxation. Greater these things possessed by a man, greater and much harder his penis would get erection.
• In a normal young man, since blood vessels works normally, therefore; no point would be there for physiological impotence. If he would control his nerves and psychology, he would possess good level of erection.
• If a man gets control over his parasympathetic activity, he would make his penis erect up till the desired time.
• Nervousness, alertness, confusion, over-excitement and mental stress possess hostility against Parasympathetic activity and hence against erection. One should also avoid those things before intercourse like coffee and tea etc that increases mental alertness and excitement.
• The lower wall and prepuce should not be touched or touched less often while foreplay either by himself or by wife since this site generates Sympathetic activity and one get early ejaculation due to it.

 Coming up next:

1.  Types of Erectile Dysfunctions and their mechanisms
2. Treatment of Erectile Dysfunctions
3. How to take Psychological Impotence
4. Role of masturbation on Erectile functions
5. Why medications should not be used in Psychological Impotence
6. Wedding night Fear and Impotence goes together
7. Self treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

 To Be Continued…………………