Erogenous zone: Difference between revisions
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==Armpits== |
==Armpits== |
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[[File:Forever Tel Aviv at TLV nightclub in Israel 2.jpg|thumb|Researchers have discovered that women adjust their [[menstrual cycles]] when exposed to the scent of a male [[underarm]].<ref name=Boston/>]] |
[[File:Forever Tel Aviv at TLV nightclub in Israel 2.jpg|thumb|Researchers have discovered that women adjust their [[menstrual cycles]] when exposed to the scent of a male [[underarm]].<ref name=Boston/>]] |
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Some consider armpits be an erogenous zone. If [[pheromones]] exist |
Some consider armpits be an erogenous zone. If [[pheromones]] exist for humans, they would likely be secreted by a mixture of liquid from the [[sebaceous glands]] with other organic compounds in the body.<ref name=Boston/> George Preti, an organic chemist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in [[Philadelphia]] and Winnefred Cutler of the [[University of Pennsylvania]]'s psychology department, discovered that women with irregular [[menstrual cycles]] became regular when exposed to male underarm extracts.<ref name=Boston>[http://www.boston.com/yourlife/relationships/articles/2003/09/02/looking_for_love_potion_number_nine/ Looking for love potion number nine], Cathryn M. Delude, [[Boston Globe]], September 2, 2003.</ref> They hypothesized that the only explanation was that underarms contain pheromones as there was no other explanation for the effects, which mirrored how pheromone affects other [[mammals]].<ref name=Boston/> |
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==Fingers== |
==Fingers== |
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Revision as of 08:21, 15 April 2009
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An Erogenous zone is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity and stimulation of which normally results in sexual response. There is individual variation in sensitive areas[citation needed], but the majority of men and women have common erogenous zones, both areas of the skin, and the penis in men and clitoris in women.
There are two types of erogenous zone response in the skin: nonspecific and specific.
Classification
Nonspecific
The skin is similar to normal haired skin and has the normal high density of nerves and hair follicles. These areas include the sides and back of the neck, the axillae (armpits) and sides of the thorax. An exaggerated tickle and anticipatory response are responsible for the heightened sensual response.
Specific
These areas produce stronger sensation and include the genitals, including prepuce, penis, clitoris, vulva and perianal skin, scrotum, lips, and nipple. The rete ridges of the epithelium are well formed and more of the nerves are close to the external surface of the skin than in normal haired skin.
Pubic Area
Female genitalia
The clitoris, is a visible button-like structure located above the labia, and is covered by a small fold of skin known as the clitoral hood. It has the densest nerve supply of any part of the skin.
Located past the clitoris, just above and on either side of the urethral opening is sensitive erectile tissue known as the Skene's gland, or U-Spot.
Within the vaginal canal there is a patch of ribbed rough tissue along the anterior of the canal. It has a texture similar to the palate (the roof of a mouth). This is the Gräfenberg spot, or G-spot.
At the deepest point on the anterior (front) wall of the vagina located between the cervix and the bladder. This is the Anterior fornix erogenous zone, or A Spot.
Other areas known to be orgasmic for some women include the rectouterine pouch, located towards the back of the posterior wall of the vagina, and the uterus, which, when stimulated, can result in a uterine orgasm.
Male genitalia
The penis is the most sensitive erogenous zone in the male body. In particular, the natural glans (head) and frenulum (foreskin) are highly sensitive and may elicit strong sensations from the slightest touch or movement. The ridged band, theorized by John R. Taylor, is believed to be a sensitive part of the penis as well.
The skin of the scrotum (testicles) is very sensitive to light touching and stroking, causing a pleasurable sensation; the scrotum may also be quite ticklish.
Males can also be aroused by light stroking and touching of the perineum (the area between the scrotum and the anus). Applying a firm pressure on it just before ejaculation can heighten the intensity of orgasm,[citation needed] although this causes retrograde ejaculation and the pressure is sometimes harmful to the pudendal nerve and other anatomical structures in the area.
The Foreskin, which carries the ridged band and lower frenular delta, has mucocutaneous end-organs extending from the distal margin to the point where hairy skin starts.[1] The thin dermis and minimal subcutaneous tissue results in closely set nerve networks. Vater-Pacini corpuscles are present. The mucocutaneous end-organs are formed after birth, with few in newborn infants and many well-organized endings in adults. Winkelmann suggests that the prepuce is a "specific erogenous zone."[2]
Anus
Moving from the hairy skin to the glabrous skin around the anus the nerve networks rise higher in the skin and the mucocutaneous end-organ becomes apparent at the vermilion border, occurring frequently in this transition zone. The Vater-Pacini corpuscle is deep in the subcutaneous tissues, and into the anal canal.
The entire gluteus maximus, (buttocks), area is both sensitive to touch, and can provide sexual arousal through visual sensation for both male and female.
Waist
Head
Lips
Mouth
Kissing, usage of tongue.
Neck
The neck and clavicle area is a very sensitive region. Licking, kissing, and caressing here are very arousing to many people, hence the term "necking". The neck area is very prone to broken blood vessels; rough kissing can leave bruises known as love bites, commonly referred to as "hickies" or "monkey bites" . Additionally the back of the neck is very sensitive to arousal by lightly caressing.
Scalp
Ears
Licking and sucking gently on earlobes is arousing to many people. Also, whispering or breathing softly in one's ear can also be very pleasurable.
Chest
The areola and nipple contain Golgi-Mazzoni, Vater-Pacini and genital corpuscles. No Meissner's corpuscles and few organized nerve endings are present. There are concentrations of nerve tissue in the area of ducts and masses of smooth muscle. The hair surrounding the areola adds additional sensory tissue. The mass of smooth muscle and glandular-duct tissue in the nipple and areola block the development of normal dermal nerve networks which are present in other erogenous regions and the development of special end organs. Indeed, the entire breast has a network of nerve endings, and they have the same number of nerve endings no matter how large they are. Accordingly, smaller breasts are more sensitive while larger breasts can be stimulated (e.g. fondled, bitten, sucked) more forcefully. Intense stimulation of a woman's nipples may result in a surge in the production of oxytocin and prolactin which could have a significant effect on her genitals. Placing a man's face in between the cleavage and kissing the breasts also increases sexual pleasure.
Armpits
Some consider armpits be an erogenous zone. If pheromones exist for humans, they would likely be secreted by a mixture of liquid from the sebaceous glands with other organic compounds in the body.[2] George Preti, an organic chemist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia and Winnefred Cutler of the University of Pennsylvania's psychology department, discovered that women with irregular menstrual cycles became regular when exposed to male underarm extracts.[2] They hypothesized that the only explanation was that underarms contain pheromones as there was no other explanation for the effects, which mirrored how pheromone affects other mammals.[2]
Fingers
The fingertips have many nerves and are responsive to very light touches, like the brushing of a tongue or light fingernail or teeth stroking. The sides are somewhat less sensitive and more ticklish.[citation needed] Both light and firmer touches work well at the junction of the fingers.
Feet & Toes
Due to the concentration of nerve endings in the sole and digits of the human foot, the sensations produced by sucking or licking the feet can be pleasurable. Similarly, massaging the sole of the foot produces similar nervous stimulation.
See also
External links
- Erogenous Zones: Their Nerve Supply and Significance, Winkelmann RK, Mayo Clin Proc 1959;34(2):39-47
References
- ^ http://www.heretical.com/miscella/g-spots.html
- ^ a b c d Looking for love potion number nine, Cathryn M. Delude, Boston Globe, September 2, 2003.