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An erogenous zone (from Greek eros - love; and genein - to produce) is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity, the stimulation of which may result in the production of erotic sensations or sexual excitement. There are individual variations as to which areas of the body are erogenously sensitive.^{[citation needed]} The most sensitive erogonous zones for a majority of men are the penis, the testicles and the anus; while for women it is the lips, clitoris anus and nipples, besides others.^{[citation needed]}

It is important to note that while these erogenous zones are generally found on all humans, they are not specific from one person to another, and attempts at stimulating someone may or may not work depending on their personal sensitivity. Some people, in fact, have adverse reactions to stimulation in any one or more of the body areas discussed below. To enhance a positive experience with a partner, or to avoid a negative experience, effective two-way communication is necessary.

[edit] Classification

Erogenous zones are either nonspecific or specific.

[edit] 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 thorax. An exaggerated tickle and anticipatory response are responsible for the heightened sensual response.

[edit] Specific Zones

These zones produce stronger sensation than nonspecific zones, and include the genitals, prepuce, penis, clitoris, vulva and perianal skin, scrotum, lips, and nipples. 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.

[edit] Pubic Area

[edit] Female

The clitoris 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.

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[edit] Male

The penis is the most sensitive erogenous zone in the male body. In particular, the frenulum (Frenulum_of_prepuce_of_penis), the corona around the glans (head) and penile mucosa (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). The prostate gland is a male erogenous zone that may be stimulated through firm pressure on the back of the perineum or through the anus. Applying pressure to the perineum 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]

[edit] Head

[edit] Lips

[edit] Mouth

Kissing and the usage of tongue.

[edit] Neck

The neck and clavicle area is a very sensitive region in both males and females. Licking, kissing or caressing in this area is sexually arousing to many people. Additionally, the back of the neck is very sensitive to arousal by lightly caressing. Some people also like being bitten gently (or not gently) in these areas, often to the point that a "hickeys" is formed. A hickey is a bruise caused by intense kissing and sucking of the skin wherein all the blood from broken blood vessels has been pulled to the surface, causing a purple- or red-colored spot to appear.

[edit] Ears

Licking and sucking gently on earlobes is arousing to many people. Also, licking, whispering or breathing softly in one's ear can also be very pleasurable.

[edit] Torso

[edit] Chest

The areola and nipple contain Golgi-Mazzoni, 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. Placing a face in between the cleavage and kissing the breasts also increases sexual pleasure in most women. 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.

[edit] Abdomen

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. For some people, the navel is an especially arousing area, yet many other people find it too ticklish.

[edit] Arms

The skin of the arms, and specifically the softer skin of the inner arms and across the creased mid-arm bend covering the dorsal 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.

[edit] Armpits

Researchers have discovered that women adjust their menstrual cycles when exposed to the scent of a male underarm.^[2]

Some consider armpits 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.^[2] 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.^[2] They hypothesized that the only explanation was that underarms contain pheromones as there was no other explanation for the effects, which mirrored how pheromones effect other mammals.^[2]

[edit] 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

[edit] Feet & 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.

[edit] See also

• Foreplay
• Orgasm
• Human sexuality
• Sexual intercourse

[edit] External links

• Erogenous Zones: Their Nerve Supply and Significance, Winkelmann RK, Mayo Clin Proc 1959;34(2):39-47

[edit] References

Look up erogenous zone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.