SOCI 3630 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2.9: Erection, Vascular Smooth Muscle, Peripheral Artery Disease
4 Jun 2020
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Physiology: the penis is made up of two corpora cavernosa and one corpus spongiosum, which are composed of interconnected sinuses that can fill with blood to produce an erection. In the flaccid state, arterial flow into and venous outflow from the corpora are balanced. During the erectile phase, arterial blood flow increases and blood fills the sinusoids within the corpora, which causes penile swelling and elongation. In the presence of sexual stimulation, ach enhances production of no by endothelial cells, which activates. Gc, which converts gtp to cgmp. cgmp decreases intracellular ca2+ concentrations in the smooth muscle cells of the penile arteries and sinuses, resulting in smooth muscle relaxation (secondary to mlc dephosphorylation) and increased blood flow into the penis. Ach also enhances adenylyl cyclase activity, which increases conversion of atp to camp, which also decreases intracellular ca2+ concentrations and promotes smooth muscle relaxation in arteries and sinuses.
