Tumescence

{{Short description|Normal engorgement with blood of the erectile tissues}}

Tumescence is the quality or state of being tumescent or swollen. Tumescence usually refers to the normal engorgement with blood{{cite web| url= http://www2.rz.hu-berlin.de/sexology/ECE1/tumescence.html| url-status= dead| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060701190342/http://www2.rz.hu-berlin.de/sexology/ECE1/tumescence.html | archivedate= 1 July 2006| title= Tumescence: The Sexual Response - The Female Response| work= Archive of Sexology| publisher= Humboldt Universität zu Berlin| date= | access-date= 26 January 2021 }} (vascular congestion) of the erectile tissues, marking sexual excitation, and possible readiness for sexual activity. The tumescent sexual organ in males is the penis and in females is the clitoris and other parts of the genitalia like the vestibular bulbs. Arteries in the penis dilate to increase blood volume.{{cite web| url= http://www2.rz.hu-berlin.de/sexology/ECE1/excitement1.html | url-status= | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070704202248/http://www2.rz.hu-berlin.de/sexology/ECE1/excitement1.html | archivedate= 4 July 2007| title= 1. Excitement: The Sexual Response - The Male Response| work= Archive of Sexology| publisher= Humboldt Universität zu Berlin| date= | access-date= 26 January 2021 }}

Detumescence is the reversal of this process, by which blood leaves the erectile tissue, returning the erectile tissue to the flaccid state.{{cite book| last1= Bella |first1= Anthony J.| last2= Lue |first2= Tom F.| chapter= Chapter 38. Male Sexual Dysfunction| editor-last1= Tanagho |editor-first1= EA| editor2-last= McAninch |editor2-first= JW| title= Smith's General Urology| edition= 17th |chapter-url= http://m-learning.zju.edu.cn/G2S/eWebEditor/uploadfile/20130618163042768.doc | publisher= as DOC file at zju.edu.cn|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180721221841/http://m-learning.zju.edu.cn/G2S/eWebEditor/uploadfile/20130618163042768.doc| access-date= |archive-date= 2018-07-21}}

Something that causes an erection is sometimes referred to as a tumefier (tumefyer) or tumescer.{{cite journal| last1= McFarlane| first1= Gordon A.| first2= Alastair M.| last2= Sammon| title= A prepaid healthcare scheme in rural Africa| journal= Tropical Doctor| volume= 30| number= 3 |year= 2000| pages= 151–54| doi= 10.1177/004947550003000313| pmid= 10902473| s2cid= 29060115}}