1037 FROM PRIAPUS TO PRIAPISM

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyMale Voiding Dysfunction (BPH & Incontinence) & Infection1 Apr 20121037 FROM PRIAPUS TO PRIAPISM Apostolos P. Labanaris, Vahudin Zugor, Christian Wagner, and Jorn H. Witt Apostolos P. LabanarisApostolos P. Labanaris Gronau, Germany More articles by this author , Vahudin ZugorVahudin Zugor Gronau, Germany More articles by this author , Christian WagnerChristian Wagner Gronau, Germany More articles by this author , and Jorn H. WittJorn H. Witt Gronau, Germany More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2012.02.1142AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES According to Greek mythology, Priapus was a rustic fertility god, protector of livestock, fruit plants, gardens and male genitalia. Priapus was noteworthy for his oversized, permanent erection, which gave rise to the medical term priapism. Priapism nowadays is a well know treatable clinical entity which has been thoroughly examined and documented with over 2000 published articles covering this condition. The objective of this study is to examine the root between Priapus and priapism. METHODS A detailed search on the history of Priapus and priapism was undertaken on PubMed, Medline and Google. RESULTS Priapus was described as the son of one of the phallic gods, either Hermes or Dionysos depending on the source. His mother was usually Aphrodite. According to the legend Hera was informed that Aphrodite was unfaithful to Dionysus with Adonis. Dissatisfied with her conduct, she caused her to give birth to a child of extreme ugliness and large genitals. Other sources believe that Hera's action was due to her jealousy towards Aphrodite, for Paris of having judged Aphrodite more beautiful than Hera. According to myth, Priapus later on permanent erection was a result of his attempt to rape the nymph Lotis. He pursued Lotis until the gods took pity on her and turned her into a lotus plant and gave him a permanent erection. Historically, the clinical condition of an unwilling permanent erection had been described as a pathological condition initially through ancient Greek doctors Galen and Soranus of Ephesus and later on from doctors of the Byzantine Empire Oribasius and Sicamus Aetius who eventually named this condition priapism. In there writings they distinguish hypersexuality from priapismus and tried several therapeutic modalities of that age. The contemporary literature of priapismus begines in the twentieth century with the article of Frank Hinman “Priapism: Report of cases and a clinical study of the literature with reference to its pathogenesis and surgical treatment” in which the treatment described was still inadequate. After the second half of the twentieth century the condition was further understood and better treated due to the increasing knowledge of the anatomical structures of the penis and physiology of the erection. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological differentiation of high and low flow priapism was not developed until 1983. CONCLUSIONS The clinical entity of priapism has been named after a God of Greek mythology Priapus and his permanent erection. Although priapism has been a known and documented for over 2000 years, only the last 30 years this condition has been deeply understood and adequately treated. © 2012 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 187Issue 4SApril 2012Page: e421 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2012 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Apostolos P. Labanaris Gronau, Germany More articles by this author Vahudin Zugor Gronau, Germany More articles by this author Christian Wagner Gronau, Germany More articles by this author Jorn H. Witt Gronau, Germany More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...