# Erect Penis on a dead guy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121 "2005-08-22T15:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/1 "2005-08-22T15:43:27Z")
I have a friend that works in a mortuary that has told me that sometimes a male cadaver comes in with an erect penis. I doubted that until I saw photographs of dead Iraqi soldiers with seemingly the same condition. My boyfriend insists this is physcially impossible. What causes this if it indeed exists? Thanks for any ideas. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/2 "2005-08-22T16:30:11Z")
I am not a doctor, but I’ll take a stab at it. A penis is probably not erect because of increased blood flow, it’s probably erect because of reduced blood flow. i.e there’s less blood flowing out than there should be. If whatever mechanism restricts blood from leaving the penis clenches shut it could possibly maintain an erection(like an inflated balloon) even after no blood is flowing in. Just a WAG though. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/3 "2005-08-22T18:04:29Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > I have a friend that works in a mortuary that has told me that sometimes a male cadaver comes in with an erect penis. I doubted that until I saw photographs of dead Iraqi soldiers with seemingly the same condition. My boyfriend insists this is physcially impossible. > > What causes this if it indeed exists? > > Thanks for any ideas. [Death erection](http://www.answers.com/topic/death-erection) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/4 "2005-08-22T18:05:34Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > [Death erection](http://www.answers.com/topic/death-erection) \*\* NOT SAFE FOR WORK!!!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/5 "2005-08-22T18:13:05Z")
Not safe for work? Why not? The link brings up a page of words, no pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/6 "2005-08-22T18:40:37Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > Not safe for work? Why not? The link brings up a page of words, no pictures. 1. I had it confused with the wikipedia article, which has pictures. 2. Workplace policies vary. Some employers might not approve of their employees reading about death erections on their dime. Better safe than sorry. 3. Hi Opal! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/7 "2005-08-22T20:39:48Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > Not safe for work? Why not? The link brings up a page of words, no pictures. Do you want the link to a picture? [http://www.voltini.com/id35.htm](http://www.voltini.com/id35.htm) ---
**Author:** ![treebug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@treebug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treebug)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/8 "2005-08-22T23:05:13Z")
i know that erect penises are common with back injuries… maybe that will uh, point you in the right direction ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/9 "2005-08-22T23:33:13Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > Death erection Band name! ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/10 "2005-08-22T23:46:29Z")
Haven’t you ever seen _Clerks_? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/11 "2005-08-23T01:34:15Z")
The common term for it is “angel lust”. It is very common in cases like executions, where panic causes increased blood flow to the lower extremeties. After death the blood remains in the penis. It can also be caused by gases released by the decomposition process. ---
**Author:** ![Corrvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@Corrvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corrvin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/12 "2005-08-23T02:52:37Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > Workplace policies vary. Some employers might not approve of their employees reading about death erections on their dime. Better safe than sorry. If someone can’t figure out that a link called “death erection” in a thread about post-death erections is a link to an article discussing post-death erections, how would they possibly realize that a “Not Safe for Work” disclaimer next to the link meant that clicking on the link **might not be appropriate if they were at work?** Not to beat a dead horse… er, go over a topic unnecessarily. Can’t be too safe. Corr ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/13 "2005-08-23T03:02:49Z")
> [@Corrvin](#): > > If someone can’t figure out that a link called “death erection” in a thread about post-death erections is a link to an article discussing post-death erections, how would they possibly realize that a “Not Safe for Work” disclaimer next to the link meant that clicking on the link **might not be appropriate if they were at work?** Some, you just can’t reach. . . 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/14 "2005-08-23T05:22:30Z")
So I’m guessing that “morning wood” is caused by similar blood flow patterns? ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/15 "2005-08-23T05:55:34Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > So I’m guessing that “morning wood” is caused by similar blood flow patterns? Along with higher testosterone levels in the morning, you’re relaxed and you are more likely to have been dreaming, things which promote erections. If you’ve got a full bladder, you’ve got another factor to consider; your body sometimes uses the partial or full blockage of the urethra when you have an erection to keep you from wetting yourself. Not really the same thing at all. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/16 "2005-08-23T09:10:49Z")
I knew I could count on you all! ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/17 "2005-08-23T09:25:40Z")
I always wondered how the dead guy had sex in “Weekend at Bernie’s.” ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/18 "2005-08-23T14:23:22Z")
> [@Sophistry and Illusion](#): > > I always wondered how the dead guy had sex in “Weekend at Bernie’s.” You learn something new every day. Makes for good dinnertime trivia. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erect-penis-on-a-dead-guy/318121/19 "2005-08-23T14:42:40Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > You learn something new every day. > > Makes for good dinnertime trivia. 😃 The movie [Kissed](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116783/) has some graphic discussions and representations of the topic.