Phase of Excitation: Plateau Phase

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Second Phase of Excitation

Plateau Phase

See the next excitation phase

Normal
Plateau Phase

The plateau phase refers to a brief period of time before orgasm.

Male

Female

The penis, which reached full erection during the excitement phase, shows a slight increase in circumference during this stage. An increase in testicular size becomes apparent. The glans of the head of the penis swells and the testes enlarge in the male.

At the imminence of orgasm, a preejaculatory fluid originating in Cowper's gland may extrude from head of the penis. Frequently, it contains active sperm. Orgasmic approach is accompanied by the sex flush covering the face, neck, chest, and sometimes shouders ans thighs.

Clitoris is withdraw. The tissue of vagina becomes engorged with venous blood. The outer vagines contracts and the clitoris retracts. The labia minora are also involved in the vasocongestive reaction. Together they form the anatomical basis for the phisiological expression of orgasm and are called the orgasmic platform.

The uterus attains complete elevation and moves backward toward the spine.

See next excitation phase

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Author: Dr. Silvia Helena Cardoso, PhD. Psychobiologist, master and doctor in Sciences by the University of São Paulo and post doctoral fellowship by the University of California, Los Angeles. Invited Professor and Associate Researcher of the Center for Biomedical Informatics, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil.

Center for Biomedical Informatics
State University of Campinas, Brazil