Читать книгу Psychopathia sexualis: With especial reference to contrary sexual instinct - R. von Krafft-Ebing - Страница 5

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The essential condition for the man is sufficient erection. Anjel (Arch. für Psych., viii, H. 2) calls attention to the fact that in sexual excitement the erection centre is not alone influenced,—the nervous excitement is distributed to the entire vasomotor system of nerves. The proof of this is the turgescence of the organs in the sexual act, injection of the conjunctiva, prominence of the eyes, dilatation of the pupils, and cardiac palpitation (resulting from paralysis of the vasomotor nerves of the heart, which arise from the cervical sympathetic, and the consequent dilatation of the cardiac arteries, and the increased stimulation of the cardiac ganglia induced by the consequent hyperæmia of the cardiac walls). The sexual act is accompanied by a pleasurable feeling, which, in the male, is conditioned by the passage of semen through the ductus ejaculatorii to the urethra, caused by sensory stimulation of the genitals. The pleasurable sensation occurs earlier in the male than in the female, grows rapidly in intensity until the moment of commencement of ejaculation, reaching its height in the instant of free emission, and disappears quickly post ejaculationem.

In the female the pleasurable feeling occurs later and comes on more slowly, and generally outlasts the act of ejaculation.

The distinctive event in coitus is ejaculation. This function is dependent on a centre (genito-spinal), which Budge has shown to be situated at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. It is a reflex centre. The stimulus that excites it is the ejection of sperma from the vesiculæ seminales into the pars membranacea urethræ, which follows reflexly from stimulation of the glans penis. As soon as the collection of semen, with ever-increasing pleasurable sensation, has reached a sufficient amount to be effectual as a stimulus of the ejaculation-centre, the centre acts. The reflex motor path lies in the fourth and fifth lumbar nerves. The action consists of a convulsive excitation of the bulbo-cavernosus muscle (innervated by the third and fourth sacral nerves), which forces the semen out.

In the female as well, at the height of sexual and pleasurable excitement, a reflex movement occurs. It is induced by stimulation of the sensory genital nerves, and consists of a peristaltic movement in the tubes and uterus as far down as the portio vaginalis, which presses out the mucous secretions of the tubes and uterus. Inhibition of the ejaculation centre is possible as a result of cortical influence (want of desire in coitus, emotions in general; influence of the will, in a measure).

Under normal conditions, with the completion of the sexual act, libido sexualis and erection disappear, and the psychical and sexual excitement gives place to a comfortable feeling of lassitude.