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Study of the cremasteric muscle during erection
Ahmed Shafik1, Ismail Shafik, Olfat El Sibai
1Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 2 Talaat Harb Street, 11121 Cairo, Egypt. shafik@ahmedshafik.com
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA
|October 7, 2006
Summary
Erection triggers a reflex contraction of the cremasteric muscle (CM), a newly identified
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Reproductive Physiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The mechanism of testicular elevation during penile erection remains unclear.
- This study investigates the role of the cremasteric muscle (CM) in testicular repositioning during erection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if penile erection elicits a reflex contraction of the cremasteric muscle (CM).
- To investigate the potential role of this reflex in testicular elevation and venous support.
Main Methods:
- Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the CM was recorded in 26 healthy volunteers during induced erections.
- Erections were achieved via intracavernosal alprostadil injection.
- CM response was assessed before and after anesthetizing the glans penis (GP) and CM.
Main Results:
- CM exhibited significantly increased EMG activity during erection (486.6 +/- 36.8 microV) compared to rest (74.8 +/- 6.3 microV; P < 0.001).
- GP anesthetization did not abolish the CM response to erection.
- Anesthetized CM did not respond to erection, indicating a reflex pathway.
Conclusions:
- A novel reflex, termed the 'peno-cremasteric reflex', appears to mediate CM contraction during erection.
- This reflex likely contributes to testicular elevation and venous support within the spermatic cord.
- CM contraction may aid in testicular compression and the expression of secretions into the vas deferens.
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