Tumescence

Tumescence

Tumescence is the quality or state of being tumescent or swollen. Tumescence usually refers to the normal engorgement with blood (vascular congestion) of the erectile tissues, marking sexual excitation and possible readiness for sexual activity. The tumescent sexual organ in men is the penis and in women is the clitoris.

Regularly, men who experience erectile dysfunction are given a nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test, usually over a three day period. Such a test detects the presence of an erection occurring during sleep using either (1) a small, portable computer connected to two bands placed around the shaft of the penis which records penile tumescence, or (2) a band of paper tape with perforations (like postage stamps) that is fit snugly around the shaft of the penis and will break at the perforations during penile tumescence.

The goal of nocturnal penile tumescence testing is to determine whether a man can experience an erection while sleeping after reporting he is unable to experience an erection while awake. If a man does obtain an erection while sleeping, but cannot obtain one while awake, a psychological cause or a medication side effect is usually suspected. Otherwise, if a man does not obtain an erection in either state, a physiological cause is usually suspected.

Detumescence

Detumescence is the reversal of this process, by which blood leaves the erectile tissue, returning to the flaccid state. [1]

External links

References

  1. ^ Bella Anthony J, Lue Tom F, "Chapter 38. Male Sexual Dysfunction" (Chapter). Tanagho EA, McAninch JW: Smith's General Urology, 17e: http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3130825.

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  • tumescence — [ tymesɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1839; du lat. tumescens, de tumescere « s enfler » ♦ Didact. Gonflement des tissus (⇒ intumescence, turgescence). Tumescence pathologique. ⇒ tuméfaction, tumeur. ♢ Spécialt Turgescence (d un organe érectile), marquant un état …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • tumescence — (n.) 1859, from Fr. tumescence, from L. tumescentem (nom. tumescens) swelling, prp. of tumescere begin to swell, from tumere to swell (see THIGH (Cf. thigh)) + inchoative suffix escere. The earliest attested form of the word in English is… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Tumescence — Tu*mes cence, n. [L. tumescens, entis, p.pr. of tumescere to swell up, v. incho. fr. tumere to swell.] The act of becoming tumid; the state of being swollen; intumescence; applied especially to the state of swelling of the vascular tissue in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tumescence — [to͞o mes′əns, tyo͞omes′əns] n. 〚< L tumescens, prp. of tumescere, to swell up, inceptive of tumere, to swell: see TUMOR〛 1. a swelling; distention 2. a swollen or distended part tumescent adj. * * * tu·mes·cence (to͞o mĕsʹəns, tyo͞o ) …   Universalium

  • tumescence — [to͞o mes′əns, tyo͞omes′əns] n. [< L tumescens, prp. of tumescere, to swell up, inceptive of tumere, to swell: see TUMOR] 1. a swelling; distention 2. a swollen or distended part tumescent adj …   English World dictionary

  • tumescence — GLOSSARY OF VOLCANIC TERMS The doming or uprising of a volcano commonly due to inflation of a shallow magma chamber. Regional tumescence commonly occurs prior to a major pyroclastic eruption, but may also occur following an eruption as less… …   Glossary of volcanic terms

  • tumescence — tumescent ► ADJECTIVE ▪ swollen or becoming swollen. DERIVATIVES tumescence noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Tumescence pénienne nocturne — La tumescence pénienne nocturne (TPN) ou érection nocturne est la survenue spontanée d une érection du pénis pendant le sommeil ou le réveil (érection matinale). Tous les hommes (depuis les nourrissons jusqu aux personnes âgées) sans dysfonction… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • tumescence — noun Date: 1859 the quality or state of being tumescent; especially readiness for sexual activity marked especially by vascular congestion of the sex organs …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tumescence — n. [L. tumescere, to swell up] Slightly tumid or enlarged …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

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