In only a few men (a mere 8%) is the erect penis completely vertical. In between 15 and 20 per cent the angle of erection is approximately 45 per cent above horizontal, though on average it is above the horizontal. The penis is suspended on bands, in such a way that when erect it pulls towards the abdomen.
The fact that the male penis is so prominently visible may explain why nude photos of women were accepted much earlier than those of men. Because of the need to point when urinating, boys become acquainted with their penis at an early age, and hence it comes as no surprise that boys start masturbating at a younger age than girls. In the course of time, while cycling or horse-riding, they notice that stimulation of the penis can produce a pleasant sensation. Quite a few young
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Ligamentum
suspensorium
men worry about what they regard as a lopsided penis, which they blame on excessive masturbation. Their concern is completely groundless. Every man’s penis is slightly askew, as mentioned previously, usually inclining towards the left. On the basis of interviews the American researcher Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) claimed as long ago as the 1950s that between 70 and 80 per cent of men hang to the left. This was confirmed — incredibly — after scientific research by radiologists. It was noted how the penis hung on a large series of x-ray photos of the pelvis minor. The point is that on a blank x-ray, that is, one without contrast, the penis is easily visible as ‘soft-tissue shadow’, as it is called in medical jargon.
Certainly, there is increasing interest in sexology in radiodiagnostics. In fact, the first magnetic resonance imaging of coitus was carried out in Groningen in the 1990s. This requires a couple to make love to order in the narrow tunnel of an mri scanner. It is scarcely surprising that many male test subjects were unable to perform. Women of course did not experience the same problem. In addition, this research showed that the penis penetrates less far into the woman’s body than doctors had hitherto assumed.
The penis is nothing but a big blood sausage, albeit one consisting of three compartments, or masses of spongiform erectile tissue. When it is engorged with blood as a result of sexual arousal and there is very little drainage, the penis becomes hard and stiff, and an erection occurs. The twin erectile tissue compartments on the top of the penis, the corpora cavernosa, fill first, followed by the third compartment, the corpus
spongiosum. The two upper compartments are linked in several places, and their ends are attached to the underside of the pubic bone. At the top the previously mentioned suspension bands act as a kind of lever between these erectile tissue compartments and the upper surface of the pubic bone. Otherwise the erect penis would start flopping about. The third compartment surrounds the urethra and runs into the glans. Surrounding the head is the foreskin, which can easily slide back. Unlike the shaft of the penis, the glans is reasonably well equipped with nerve endings, of which the frenulum or ‘little bridle’ is the most sensitive. Under the skin of the pelvis, besides a thin layer of connective tissue, there is a sturdy sheet of the same tissue. This sheet is adjacent to the casing of the erectile tissue compartments, the tunica albuginea.
Since the erection is brought about by vasocongestion in the erectile tissue compartments, it is important that the relevant arteries are intact. These are in order: the great abdominal aorta, which divides into two in the pelvis, and branches of which go to the leg, the buttock and the penis. The two arteries leading to the penis each have three branches: one runs across the top of the penis, one through the middle of the corpora cavernosa and one through the corpus spongiosum. Those running through the two corpora cavernosa are the most important: they branch into countless tiny arteries and join the tiny veins that drain the blood off again. These small veins discharge into larger veins in the erectile tissue compartments that subsequently drain the blood into the inferior caval vein in the abdomen.
Crura
Outer layer of tunica albuginea
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Inner layer of tunica albuginea
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In order to produce an erection the veins must widen, the muscles on the spongiform tissue in the compartments must relax, and the veins must be somewhat compressed. This happens through the effect of nervous stimuli. There are two erection centres in the spine for this purpose, one level with the sacrum and one with the lumbar vertebrae. If, for example, there is complete paralysis of the lower body as a result of a spinal fracture, an erection may still be produced through manual stimulation, a so-called reflex erection. As soon as the stimulation stops, the erection disappears. Coitus is not possible.
Is the penis actually eatable as a blood sausage? Yes: Midas Dekkers writes about this in his book on bestiality, Dearest Pet. The recipe comes from the humble Jewish Yemeni culinary tradition: blanch and clean a goat’s penis. Boil for ten minutes and cut into slices. Saute onions, garlic and coriander in oil. Add the penis and fry. Mix chopped tomatoes, pepper, cumin, saffron and salt and pour the mixture over the penis. Cover the pan and braise slowly for two hours until cooked. Experts have found the taste disappointing.