Erogenous zone
Encyclopedia
An erogenous zone is an area of the human body
that has heightened sensitivity
, the stimulation of which may result in the production of erotic sensation
s or sexual excitement.
People have erogenous zones all over their bodies, but which areas are more sensitive than others vary. Some may resent stimulation that others find arousing. The stimulation of these areas can produce gentle, mild or intense arousal.
The erogenous zones may be classified by the type of sexual excitement that they provoke. Many are gently aroused when their eyelids, eyebrows, temples, shoulders, hands, arms and hair are subtly touched. Gently touching or stroking of these zones stimulates a partner during foreplay and increases the arousal level. Also, the gentle massage or stroke of the abdominal area along with kissing or simply touching the navel
can be a type of stimulation.
. An exaggerated tickle and anticipatory response are responsible for the heightened sensual response.
and corona
of the glans penis
, clitoris
, vulva
and perianal skin, and lip
s. 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.
‘orgasm effort’, the most sensitive part of the penis is the ventral area 'underside of the glans', followed by 'underside of the penile shaft'. In particular, the foreskin
(including the ridged band
of preputial mucosa
and the frenulum
) and the corona around the glans
(head) are highly sensitive to light touch. 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.http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/winkelmann/ 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.; Cold and Taylor, citing Winkelmann, stated that the prepuce
(foreskin
) is primary erogenous tissue.
Males can also be aroused by stimulation to the sides of the glans and penis, upper side of the glans, the foreskin, the front side of the scrotum, the skin between the scrotum and anus perineum
, and around the anus.
The prostate gland may be stimulated from inside the rectum, or by applying pressure on the base of the perineum near the anus
. Men who report the sensation of prostate and seminal vesicles stimulation often give descriptions similar to females' accounts of G-spot
stimulation.
is an erogenous zone on a woman and has the densest concentration of nerve endings 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 the U-Spot.
Within the anterior of the vaginal canal, there is a patch of ribbed rough tissue which has a texture that is described as similar to the palate
(the roof of a mouth) or a raspberry
, and may feel spongy when a woman is sexually aroused. 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
, is the Anterior fornix erogenous zone
, or A-Spot. It is described as having a wrinkly texture similar to the tip of the nose
.
Other areas known to be orgasmic for some women include the rectouterine pouch, accessible through both the back of the posterior wall of the vagina and the anterior wall of the anus
, the perineal sponge
, accessible though the perineum
and the anterior wall of the anus
, several inches in, and the uterus
, which, when stimulated, can result in a uterine orgasm.
area and the back of the neck are very sensitive in both males and females, which can be stimulated by licking, kissing or light caressing. Some people also like being bitten gently in these areas, often to the point that a "hickey
", or "love-bite" is formed.
, 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. Having the chest, breasts and nipples stimulated manually (hands), digitally (fingers, toes) and/or orally (mouth, lips, teeth, tongue) is a pleasurable experience enjoyed by many males and females.
The navel and the region below when touched by the finger or the tip of the tongue result in the production of erotic sensations.The famous pop star Madonna
has told in a interview to the SPIN
magazine (May 1985 issue),"When I stick my finger in my belly button, I feel a nerve in the center of my body shoot up my spine". This is because the navel and the genitals have a common tissue origin, and in some people this connection still exists so that stimulation of the navel will elicit a distinct tickle in the genitals.
Some consider the armpits to 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. 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. They hypothesized that the only explanation was that underarms contain pheromones, as there was no other explanation for the effects, which mirrored how pheromones affect other mammals.
Human body
The human body is the entire structure of a human organism, and consists of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs.By the time the human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells, the basic unit of life...
that has heightened sensitivity
Sensitivity (human)
The sensitivity or insensitivity of a human, often considered with regard to a particular kind of stimulus, is the strength of the feeling it results in, in comparison with the strength of the stimulus...
, the stimulation of which may result in the production of erotic sensation
Sexual fantasy
A sexual fantasy, also called an erotic fantasy, is a fantasy or pattern of thoughts with the effect of creating or enhancing sexual feelings; in short, it is "almost any mental imagery that is sexually arousing or erotic to [an] individual"...
s or sexual excitement.
People have erogenous zones all over their bodies, but which areas are more sensitive than others vary. Some may resent stimulation that others find arousing. The stimulation of these areas can produce gentle, mild or intense arousal.
The erogenous zones may be classified by the type of sexual excitement that they provoke. Many are gently aroused when their eyelids, eyebrows, temples, shoulders, hands, arms and hair are subtly touched. Gently touching or stroking of these zones stimulates a partner during foreplay and increases the arousal level. Also, the gentle massage or stroke of the abdominal area along with kissing or simply touching the navel
Navel
The navel is a scar on the abdomen caused when the umbilical cord is removed from a newborn baby...
can be a type of stimulation.
Nonspecific zones
In these zones, 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 inner arms, the axillae (armpits) and sides of the thoraxChest
The chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. It is sometimes referred to as the thorax or the bosom.-Chest anatomy - Humans and other hominids:...
. An exaggerated tickle and anticipatory response are responsible for the heightened sensual response.
Specific zones
Specific zones are associated with sexual response, and include areas of the genitals, notably the foreskinForeskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
and corona
Corona of glans penis
The corona of glans penis refers to the circumference of the base of the glans penis in human males which forms a rounded projecting border, overhanging a deep retroglandular sulcus, behind which is the neck of the penis....
of the glans penis
Glans penis
The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female...
, clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
, vulva
Vulva
The vulva consists of the external genital organs of the female mammal. This article deals with the vulva of the human being, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
and perianal skin, and lip
Lip
Lips are a visible body part at the mouth of humans and many animals. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech...
s. The rete ridges of the epithelium
Epithelium
Epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body, and also form many glands. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective...
are well-formed and more of the nerves are close to the external surface of the skin than in normal-haired skin.
Male
Ranked by self-reported degree of ratings of ‘sexual pleasure’, ‘orgasm intensity’ and‘orgasm effort’, the most sensitive part of the penis is the ventral area 'underside of the glans', followed by 'underside of the penile shaft'. In particular, the foreskin
Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
(including the ridged band
Ridged band
The term ridged band is a description of an area/band of wrinkly skin toward the end of the foreskin. The term ridged is used to describe the area instead of the more commonly used term "wrinkled". More particularly it refers to the "transitional area from the external to the internal surface ofthe...
of preputial mucosa
Preputial mucosa
The preputial mucosa of the penis is the epithelium of the inside of the prepuce, or foreskin. To differentiate it from the cutaneous skin of the outside of the prepuce, it is sometimes referred to as the inner mucosa...
and the frenulum
Frenulum of prepuce of penis
The word frenulum on its own is often used for the frenulum of prepuce of penis, which is an elastic band of tissue under the glans penis that connects to the prepuce, or foreskin to the vernal mucosa, and helps contract the prepuce over the glans. This is sometimes colloquially known as the "banjo...
) and the corona around the glans
Glans penis
The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female...
(head) are highly sensitive to light touch. The foreskin
Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
, which carries the ridged band
Ridged band
The term ridged band is a description of an area/band of wrinkly skin toward the end of the foreskin. The term ridged is used to describe the area instead of the more commonly used term "wrinkled". More particularly it refers to the "transitional area from the external to the internal surface ofthe...
and lower frenular delta
Frenular delta
The frenular delta in human anatomy is the area underneath the penile glans along the penile ventral body, and is composed of a mucosa. The frenulum attaches at the top of the triangle and outlines its sides, which connect with the ridged bands. The delta is highly innervated, and is considered a...
, has mucocutaneous end-organs extending from the distal margin to the point where hairy skin starts.http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/winkelmann/ 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.; Cold and Taylor, citing Winkelmann, stated that the prepuce
Prepuce
Prepuce may refer to:* The foreskin, which surrounds and protects the head of the penis* The clitoral hood, which surrounds and protects the head of the clitoris...
(foreskin
Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
) is primary erogenous tissue.
Males can also be aroused by stimulation to the sides of the glans and penis, upper side of the glans, the foreskin, the front side of the scrotum, the skin between the scrotum and anus perineum
Perineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
, and around the anus.
The prostate gland may be stimulated from inside the rectum, or by applying pressure on the base of the perineum near the anus
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
. Men who report the sensation of prostate and seminal vesicles stimulation often give descriptions similar to females' accounts of G-spot
G-spot
The Gräfenberg Spot, often called the G-Spot, is a bean-shaped area of the vagina. Many women report that it is an erogenous zone which, when stimulated, can lead to strong sexual arousal, powerful orgasms and female ejaculation...
stimulation.
Female
The clitorisClitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
is an erogenous zone on a woman and has the densest concentration of nerve endings of any part of the skin.
Located past the clitoris, just above and on either side of the urethral opening
Urethra
In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...
, is sensitive erectile tissue
Urethral sponge
The urethral sponge is a spongy cushion of tissue, found in the lower genital area of women, that sits against both the pubic bone and vaginal wall, and surrounds the urethra.-Functions:...
known as the Skene's gland
Skene's gland
In human anatomy , the Skene's glands are glands located on the anterior wall of the vagina, around the lower end of the urethra. They drain into the urethra and near the urethral opening and may be near or a part of the G-Spot...
, or the U-Spot.
Within the anterior of the vaginal canal, there is a patch of ribbed rough tissue which has a texture that is described as similar to the palate
Palate
The palate is the roof of the mouth in humans and other mammals. It separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. A similar structure is found in crocodilians, but, in most other tetrapods, the oral and nasal cavities are not truly separate. The palate is divided into two parts, the anterior...
(the roof of a mouth) or a raspberry
Raspberry
The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...
, and may feel spongy when a woman is sexually aroused. This is the Gräfenberg spot, or G-spot
G-spot
The Gräfenberg Spot, often called the G-Spot, is a bean-shaped area of the vagina. Many women report that it is an erogenous zone which, when stimulated, can lead to strong sexual arousal, powerful orgasms and female ejaculation...
.
At the deepest point on the anterior (front) wall of the vagina, located between the cervix
Cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
and the bladder
Bladder
Bladder usually refers to an anatomical hollow organBladder may also refer to:-Biology:* Urinary bladder in humans** Urinary bladder ** Bladder control; see Urinary incontinence** Artificial urinary bladder, in humans...
, is the Anterior fornix erogenous zone
Anterior fornix erogenous zone
The anterior fornix erogenous zone is a female erogenous zone that when stimulated can lead to rapid vaginal lubrication and arousal, sometimes without any other form of stimulation, with continued stimulation resulting in an intense orgasm.-Early research:The AFE...
, or A-Spot. It is described as having a wrinkly texture similar to the tip of the nose
Human nose
The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils...
.
Other areas known to be orgasmic for some women include the rectouterine pouch, accessible through both the back of the posterior wall of the vagina and the anterior wall of the anus
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
, the perineal sponge
Perineal sponge
The perineal sponge is a spongy cushion of tissue and blood vessels, found in the lower genital area of women. It sits between the vagina and rectum and is internal to the perineum and perineal body.-Functions:...
, accessible though the perineum
Perineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
and the anterior wall of the anus
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
, several inches in, and the uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
, which, when stimulated, can result in a uterine orgasm.
Neck
The neck, clavicleClavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
area and the back of the neck are very sensitive in both males and females, which can be stimulated by licking, kissing or light caressing. Some people also like being bitten gently in these areas, often to the point that a "hickey
Hickey
A Hickey is a mark on the skin caused by amorous contact.Hickey may also refer to:* Hickey , including list of people with the surname* Hickey , melodic" punk band from San Francisco's Mission District...
", or "love-bite" is formed.
Ears
Some people find whispering or breathing softly in the ear to be pleasurable, as well as licking, biting or kissing.Chest
The areola and nipple contain Golgi-MazzoniPacinian corpuscle
Lamellar corpuscles or Pacinian corpuscles are one of the four major types of mechanoreceptor. They are nerve endings in the skin, responsible for sensitivity to vibration and pressure. Vibrational role may be used to detect surface, e.g., rough vs...
, 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
Areola
This article is about the breast tissue. For the entomology term, see the glossary of Lepidopteran terms. For an artistic cloud motif, see aureola. For the cactus feature, see Areole....
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
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that acts primarily as a neuromodulator in the brain.Oxytocin is best known for its roles in sexual reproduction, in particular during and after childbirth...
and prolactin
Prolactin
Prolactin also known as luteotropic hormone is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRL gene.Prolactin is a peptide hormone discovered by Henry Friesen...
which could have a significant effect on her genitals. Having the chest, breasts and nipples stimulated manually (hands), digitally (fingers, toes) and/or orally (mouth, lips, teeth, tongue) is a pleasurable experience enjoyed by many males and females.
Abdomen and navel
Many people find stimulation (kissing, biting, scratching, tickling, caressing) of the abdomen to be pleasurable, especially close to the pubic region. It can cause strong arousal in men and women, in some even stronger than stimulation of the genitals. The navel is one of the many erogenous zones that has heightened sensitivity.The navel and the region below when touched by the finger or the tip of the tongue result in the production of erotic sensations.The famous pop star Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
has told in a interview to the SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
magazine (May 1985 issue),"When I stick my finger in my belly button, I feel a nerve in the center of my body shoot up my spine". This is because the navel and the genitals have a common tissue origin, and in some people this connection still exists so that stimulation of the navel will elicit a distinct tickle in the genitals.
Arms
The skin of the arms, and specifically the softer skin of the inner arms and across the creased mid-arm bend covering the ventral side of the elbow, are highly sensitive to manual or lingual stimulation. Light stroking with fingers or tongue, more vigorous kneading, and butterfly kissing can initiate arousal and, in some cases, induce clitoral/vaginal orgasm or penile ejaculation without direct contact with the latter areas. The mid-arm bend is especially sensitive due to the thinner skin found there, which makes nerve endings more accessible. Arm sensitivity may be reduced or concentrated to a more narrow range by excessive muscularity or obesity on the one hand, or transformed to uncomfortable tenderness by excessive thinness on the other.Armpits
Monell Chemical Senses Center
The Monell Chemical Senses Center is a non-profit independent scientific institute located at the University City Science Center research campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
in Philadelphia and Winnefred Cutler of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's psychology department, discovered that women with irregular menstrual cycles became regular when exposed to male underarm extracts. They hypothesized that the only explanation was that underarms contain pheromones, as there was no other explanation for the effects, which mirrored how pheromones affect other mammals.
Fingers
The fingertips have many nerves and are responsive to very light touches, like the brushing of a tongue, light fingernail scratching or teeth stroking. The sides of the fingers are somewhat less sensitive and more ticklish. Both light and firmer touches work well at the junction of the fingers. Human fingertips are the second-most sensitive parts of the body, after the tongue.Feet and 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 to some people. Similarly, massaging the sole of the foot produces similar nervous stimulation. Many people are extremely ticklish in the foot area, especially on the bottom of the soles.External links
- Erogenous Zones: Their Nerve Supply and Significance, Winkelmann RK, Mayo Clin Proc 1959;34(2):39-47