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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.
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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, 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 front 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 anterial (front) wall of the vagina located between the cervix and the bladder. This is the Anterior Fornix Erogenous Zone, or A Spot.
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.
Actually, the entire gluteus maximus, (buttocks), area is both sensitive to touch, as well as providing sexual arousal through visual sensation for both male and female. Males prefer a female who has significant "curvature", that is protrudes outwardly, while females prefer males with some protuberance, but with an overall smaller circumference.
Waist
Navel
Head
Lips
Mouth
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
Chest
The areola and nipple contain various dense nerve tissues, concentrated in the area of ducts and masses of smooth muscle. The area surrounding the areola is also sensitive, nerve tissue. In fact, the entire pectoral area has a network of dense nerve endings.
Breasts
Armpits
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
There are concentration of nerve endings in the sole and digits of the human foot, the sensations.
See also
External links
- Erogenous Zones: Their Nerve Supply and Significance, Winkelmann RK, Mayo Clin Proc 1959;34(2):39-47
References
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- This page was last modified on 4 January 2009, at 21:05.
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