Autonomic nervous system and male reproduction

Abstract

The autonomic nervous system regulates the smooth muscle activity, glandular secretions and blood flow in the male reproductive organs and so is essential for erection, emission and ejaculation. The onset, intensity, duration and coordination of these events also depend on sensory, brain and spinal circuits. In this chapter, general principles of autonomic regulation are followed by more detailed discussion of how neural activity affects different reproductive organs, the impact of sex hormones on this neural communication and relevance to several clinical conditions.