The Physiology of

Human Sexual Act

Outline
Introduction
Male sexual act
- Neuronal stimulus
- Stages of the male sexual act: Lubrication, emission,
ejaculation
Female sexual act
- Stimulation
- Female Erection and Lubrication
- Female Orgasm

Physiology of Male Sexual Act

Neuronal Stimulus
From glans penis.
From areas adjacent to the penis.

Filling of the sexual organs with secretions.

Physiology of Male Sexual Act

Psychic Element:

Brain
Functio
n

Sexual thoughts.
Nocturnal Emission.

Physical
Stimulati
on

Male
Sexual
Act

Stages of Male Sexual Act

Penile Erection
Role of Parasympathetic.
First effect of male sexual stimulation.
NO relaxes the arteries in the penis.

Stages of Male Sexual Act (contd)

Lubrication
Parasympathetic Stimulation.
Mucus secretion.
Most lubrication attributed to female.

Emission and Ejaculation

Final/climax stage.
Due to sympathetic impulses.

Stages of Human Sexual Act:

Emission
Contraction of vas deferens and ampulla.
Expulsion of sperm to internal urethra.

Prostate gland and seminal vesicles release secretions

to the urethra.
All fluids + mucus semen.

Stages of Human Sexual Act:

Ejaculation
Filling of internal urethra elicits sensory signals.
Rhythmical, wavelike pressure in:
Erectile tissue,
Genital ducts and
Urethra.

Emission + Ejaculation Male Orgasm.

Resolution follows.
Sexual excitement disappears in 1 -2 min.
Erection ceases.

Female Sexual Act

Depends on both:
Psychic stimulation.
Physical sexual
stimulation.

Sexual desire increases

in proportion to the level
of sex hormones
secreted.
Peak near the time of
ovulation

Female Sexual Act (contd)

Physical stimulation
The glans of the clitoris is
especially sensitive for
initiating sexual sensations.
As in the male, the sexual
sensory signals are transmitted
to the sacral segments of the
spinal cord through the
pudendal nerve and sacral
plexus

Female Erection and Lubrication

Erectile tissue almost identical to the penis
parasympathetic nerves.

Arteries
of the
erectile
tissue
dilate.

Blood
accumula
tes in
erectile
tissue.

Bartholin
s glands:
secrete
mucus.

Female Orgasm Local

sexual
stimulatio
n

Analogous to
emission and
ejaculation in the
male.

Appropria
te psychic
conditioni
ng

Femal
e
Orgas
m

Female Orgasm
Promote fertilization of the ovum.
Perineal muscles contract rhythmically.
Uterine and fallopian tube motility.
Dilation of cervical canal.

In animals, oxytocin is secreted.

Rhythmical contractions of the uterus.
Not known in humans.

Female Orgasm
Intense Sexual Sensation
Pass to Cerebrum and Cause

Intense Muscle Tension

After culmination of sexual act this
leads to
Sense of Satisfaction (Resolution)

References
Guyton & Hall. Text Book of Medical Physiology. 11th
Edition.