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Physiology of Penile Erection and Pathophysiology of Erectile Dysfunction

  • Chapter
Color Doppler US of the Penis

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

Penile erection is primarily a neurovascular event modulated by psychological and hormonal status. Sexual stimulation causes a release of neurotransmitters from the cavernous nerve terminals and relaxing factors from the endothelial cells in the penis, resulting in relaxation of smooth muscle in the arteries and arterioles supplying the erectile tissue.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery and Associate Scientist (Neuroscience), University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1Y 4E9, Canada

    Anthony J. Bella MD, FRCS(C)

  2. PO Box 40,000, Vail, CO, 81658, USA

    William O. Brant MD

  3. 400 Parnassus Ave, A633, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0738, USA

    Tom F. Lue MD

Authors
  1. Anthony J. Bella MD, FRCS(C)
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  2. William O. Brant MD
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  3. Tom F. Lue MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department Radiology, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste, 34124, Italy

    Michele Bertolotto MD

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Bella, A.J., Brant, W.O., Lue, T.F. (2008). Physiology of Penile Erection and Pathophysiology of Erectile Dysfunction. In: Bertolotto, M. (eds) Color Doppler US of the Penis. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36677-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36677-5_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-36676-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-36677-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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