TBR: Penile Erection Help Needed!!!

[justadream]

I thought that thread title might attract some viewers lol

TBR Bio Book I page 43 #11

“Which of the following symptoms would be considered a PNS response”?

Answer: Penile erection

So I get that PNS causes dilation of the arteries allows the tissues of the penis to become engorged with blood. But doesn’t this increase heart rate?*

*I thought this might be true since Cialis commercials say to “ask you doctor if your heart is ready for sexual activity”. Of course, maybe Cialis is referring to the physical exertion aspect (from skeletal muscle contraction) that is increasing heart rate##

##This bring up another question. Does sex activate the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system? Question #10 on this TBR page basically says that anything requiring exertion beyond normal basal levels would stimulate sympathetic nervous response. But penile erection is considered to be associated with PNS (though I’m not sure if it causes PNS response).

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[t5Nitro]

I thought that thread title might attract some viewers lol

TBR Bio Book I page 43 #11

“Which of the following symptoms would be considered a PNS response”?

Answer: Penile erection

So I get that PNS causes dilation of the arteries allows the tissues of the penis to become engorged with blood. But doesn’t this increase heart rate?*

*I thought this might be true since Cialis commercials say to “ask you doctor if your heart is ready for sexual activity”. Of course, maybe Cialis is referring to the physical exertion aspect (from skeletal muscle contraction) that is increasing heart rate##

##This bring up another question. Does sex activate the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system? Question #10 on this TBR page basically says that anything requiring exertion beyond normal basal levels would stimulate sympathetic nervous response. But penile erection is considered to be associated with PNS (though I’m not sure if it causes PNS response).

Here is a way you and everybody else that reads this will probably never forget. Ready?

This is the Point and Shoot system.

Get it? Point, erection = PNS.
Shoot, use your imagination = sympathetic.

So to answer your question, both are involved.

 

[Czarcasm]

I thought that thread title might attract some viewers lol

TBR Bio Book I page 43 #11

“Which of the following symptoms would be considered a PNS response”?

Answer: Penile erection

So I get that PNS causes dilation of the arteries allows the tissues of the penis to become engorged with blood. But doesn’t this increase heart rate?*

*I thought this might be true since Cialis commercials say to “ask you doctor if your heart is ready for sexual activity”. Of course, maybe Cialis is referring to the physical exertion aspect (from skeletal muscle contraction) that is increasing heart rate##

##This bring up another question. Does sex activate the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system? Question #10 on this TBR page basically says that anything requiring exertion beyond normal basal levels would stimulate sympathetic nervous response. But penile erection is considered to be associated with PNS (though I’m not sure if it causes PNS response).

Just to contribute to the discussion: the main contributor to penile erection (or even the clitoris) is a molecule called Nitric Oxide (NO), which is released by stimulation of the nerve endings (of parasympathetic nervous system). NO acts via a metabotropic receptor (which induces a G-Protein cascade); in this scenario, the receptor of smooth muscle of the arteries. This produces high levels of intracellular cGMP which ultimately bind to a receptor on smooth endoplasmic reticulum and allows calcium to flow in (and out of the cytoso). The result? With reduced cytosolic calcium, the smooth muscle of the arterioles supplying blood relax (vasodialate) allowing more blood to flow into the penis. At the same time, all this blood flow compresses the veniole end reducing blood from escaping, resulting in erection of the penis. After sex, cGMP levels are destroyed by an enzyme called PDE5, ultimately allowing the arterioles to constrict again and the penis to become flaccid. Cialis, Viagra, and Slidenafil all act to inhibit the action of PDE5, resulting in higher levels of cGMP. (As you might have guessed, individuals with erectile dysfunction have high activity of PDE5, which is why taking drugs that inhibit its action help. With regard to the heart, the reason why this is a concern is because NO also allows cardiac muscles to pump harder, allowing increased blood flow into the heart. This combined with the amount of blood being pumped into the penis might pose a problem in individuals who have high blood pressure or other health related issues. The only reason I know so much about this is because of my A&P class, lol.

 

[NeuroMaster316]

Erection AND Lubrication ==> Parasympathetic
Ejaculation (preceded by emission) ==> Sympathetic
Return to normal (constriction) ==> Sympathetic

They're asking for a parasympathetic response, heart rate is decreased not increased. Do NOT confuse the event with the Question being asked, they're simply asking what does the parasympathetic response induce.
Also to add, parasympathetic does not mean something has to be decreased or inhibited !