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Template:Spoken Wikipedia A death erection, angel lust, or terminal erection[1] is a post-mortem erection, technically a priapism, observed in the corpses of human males who have been executed, particularly by hanging.[2]
Overview
The phenomenon has been attributed to pressure on the cerebellum created by the noose.[3] Spinal cord injuries are known to be associated with priapism.[4] Injuries to the cerebellum or spinal cord are often associated with priapism in living patients.[2]
Death by hanging, whether an execution or a suicide, has been observed to affect the genitals of both men and women.
In women, the labia will become engorged and there may be a discharge of blood from the vagina. In men, "a more or less complete state of erection of the penis, with discharge of urine, of mucus, or of the prostatic fluid, is a frequent occurrence ... present in one case in three." Other causes of death may also result in these effects, including fatal gunshot wounds to the brain, damage to major blood vessels, or violent death by poisoning. Forensically, a postmortem priapism is an indicator that death was likely swift and violent.[5]
Cultural references
- In the HBO produced show, Six Feet Under, Frederico explains to Nate Fisher Jr. what "angel lust" is after he witnesses an erection on a corpse. This is the very first body he picks up as the new 50% owner of "Fisher & Sons", Season 1, Episode 2: The Will
- The 2003 Channel 4 documentary on the Jack Sheppard case, The Georgian Underworld, Part 4: Invitation to a Hanging noted that his hanging caused an erection.[6]
- The "Cyclops" section of James Joyce's Ulysses makes multiple use of the terminal erection as a motif.[7]
- The Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 includes found footage of United States troops "jocularly prodding the post-mortem erection of a fallen Iraqi".[8]
- In The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon relates an anecdote attributed to Abulfeda that Ali, on the death of Mohammed, exclaimed, O propheta, certe penis tuus cælum versus erectus est (O prophet, thy penis is erect unto the sky).[9]
See also
References
de:Postmortale Erektion es:Erección post mortem fr:Érection post mortem hi:डेथ इरेक्शन is:Dauðaholdris pl:Erekcja pośmiertna pt:Ereção post mortem
- ↑ Template:Cite book "Men subjected to capital punishment by hanging and laboratory animals sacrificed with cervical dislocation have terminal erections. The implication is that either central inhibition of erection is released and erection created or that a sudden massive spinal cord stimulus generates an erectile response. There is ample experimental and clinical evidence to support the former supposition."
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:Cite book "Erection has long been observed to follow injuries to the cerebellum and spinal cord. Out of eleven cases of cerebellar hemorrhage, erection of the penis was noted six times by Serres. Death by hanging is often accompanied by partial erection."
- ↑ Template:Cite book "Priapism is sometimes seen as a curious symptom of lesion of the spinal cord. In such cases it is totally unconnected with any voluptuous sensation, and is only found accompanied by motor paralysis. It may occur spontaneously immediately after accident involving the cord, and is then probably due to undue excitement of the portion of the cord below the lesion, which is deprived of the regulating influence of the brain... Pressure on the cerebellum is supposed to account for cases of priapism observed in executions and suicides by hanging. There is an instance recorded of an Italian castrata who said he provoked sexual pleasure by partially hanging himself."
- ↑ David Levy, DO. Neck trauma. eMedicine.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
- ↑ Template:Cite book
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Yann Tholoniat. Joyce's Cyclops. Retrieved on 2007-01-26. Yann Tholoniat is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Strasbourg.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite book
