Lecture Notes
Chapter 9 Physiology of Sexual Response
Revised:
2007-05-18
Since Masters and Johnson's pioneering research published in 1966,
much has been learned about the physiological nature of human sexual
response. Students of today can hardly imagine the sea change in the
openness of the discussion now possible. Masters and Johnson, if
nothing else, made it possible for the public and for the academy to
openly study the topic of sexual response.
- Masters and Johnson's Four Stages
- Excitement
- Male Sex Organs
- erection (3-8
seconds)
- elevation of scrotal
sac
- partial testicular elevation
and size increase
- Male Body Responses
- Female Sex Organs
- lubrication (10-30
seconds)
- thickening of vaginal walls and
labia
- Female Body Responses
- nipple erection
(universal)
- sex-tension flush
(25%)
- Plateau
- Male Sex Organs
- increase in coronal
circumference and testicular tumescence
(50-100%)
- full testicular elevation and
rotation (orgasmic inevitability)
- purple hue on corona (not
universal)
- Cowper's gland
secretion
- Male Body Responses
- sex-tension flush
(25%)
- carpopedal spasm
- skeletal muscle
tension
- hyperventilation
- tachycardia
(100-160)
- Female Sex Organs
- orgasmic platform, outer 1/3 or
vagina
- full expansion of 2/3 or
vagina
- uterine and cervical
elevation
- discoloration of labia
minora
- Bartholin's gland
secretion
- withdrawal of
clitoris
- Female Body Responses
- sex-tension flush
(75%)
- carpopedal spasm
- skeletal muscle
tension
- hyperventilation
- tachycardia
(100-160)
- Orgasm
- Male Sex Organs
- ejaculation
- contractions of: vas deferens,
seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct, prostate
- relaxation of exteral bladder
sphincter
- contractions of penile urethra
at 0.8 second intervals (3-4 contractions, slowing to 2-4
more
- anal sphincter contractions
(2-4 contractions at 0.8 second intervals)
- Male Body Responses
- specific skeletal muscle
contractions
- hyperventilation
- tachycardia
(100-180)
- Female Sex Organs
- pelvic response (no
ejaculation, but see discussion of G-spot)
- uterine contractions from
fundus to lower segment
- contractions of orgasmic
platform at 0.8 second intervals (5-12, slowing to 3-6
more)
- external rectal sphincter
contractions at 0.8 second intervals
- external urethral sphincter
contractions (2-3 contractions at irregular intervals,
10-15%)
- Female Body Responses
- specific skeletal muscle
contractions
- hyperventilation
- tachycardia
(110-180)
- Resolution
- Male Sex Organs
- refractory
period
- rapid loss of pelvic
vasocongestion
- loss of erection in primary
(fast) and secondary (slow) stages
- Male Body Responses
- sweating (30-40%)
- hyperventilation
- tachycardia
(150-80)
- Female Sex Organs
- ready return to
orgasm
- retarded loss of
vasocongestion
- loss of "sex-skin" color and
orgasmic platform in primary (fast) stage
- loss of remainder of pelvic
vasocongestion in secondary (slow) stage
- loss of clitoral tumescence and
return to unaroused position
- Female Body Responses
- sweating (30-40%)
- hyperventilation
- tachycardia
(150-80)
- Other Masters and Johnson Findings
- Clitoral vs. Vaginal Orgasm
- Multiple Orgasm
- 40+% of females are capable
- reported in males (very rare)
- Criticisms of Masters and Johnson's Model
- Kaplan's Triphasic Model
- sexual desire
- vasocongestion
- reflex muscle contractions
- Walen and Roth's Cognitive Model
- Perceptions of: sexual stimulus, arousal, sexual
behavior, and perception of sexual behavior must all have
sequential positive evaluations
- Hormonal and Neural Control of Sexual Behavior
- Neural
- not as intimate a connection in humans as in
animals
- Hormonal
- much more of a cause-and-effect relationship in
animals
- Pheromones
- Definition
- substances secreted externally that have specific
effects on other members of species
- Effects
- very few reported pheromonal effects in humans (many in
animals)
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