A death erection, angel lust, rigor erectus, or terminal erection [1] is a post-mortem erection, technically a priapism, observed in the corpses of men who have been executed, particularly by hanging. [2]
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 and clitoris may become engorged and there may be a discharge of blood from the vagina [5] while in men, "a more or less complete state of erection of the penis, with discharge of urine, mucus or prostatic fluid is a frequent occurrence ... present for one in three cases." [5] Other causes of death may also result in these effects, including fatal gunshots to the head, damage to major blood vessels, and violent death by poisoning. A postmortem priapism is an indicator that death was likely swift and violent. [5]
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(help) Yann Tholoniat is a professor at the University of Lorraine.