The anatomy of the penis is complex. It is comprised primarily of two cylinders of sponge-like vascular tissue that fill with blood to create an erection. Blood is pumped into the penis under great pressure and a series of valves keep it in the penis to maintain the erection.
A third cylinder is the urethra, a tube that carries the urine and the ejaculate. The knobby head of the penis is called the glans. Blood flows to the penis by two very small arteries that come from the Aorta. These arteries are the same size as the arteries to your finger. The main problem that causes impotence is that the blood vessels become blocked and the blood can not get to the penis.
An erection occurs when during sexual arousal the nervous system activates a rapid increase in blood flow. The vascular muscle in the spongy area becomes engorged with blood and the outflow of blood is cut off. An erection can occur as a reflex as we see in spinal cord patients, or can be caused by psychogenic (originating in the mind) stimulation. Numerous sexual stimuli are processed by the brain and transmitted to the penis via the nervous system.
In order to increase the size of an erection, there must be an increase in blood flow and, at the same time, the blood has to be prevented from leaving the penis.

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