North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

Which term describes a painful, continuous erection in a newborn male that can be triggered by light?

1. Erections from stimulation

2. Priapism

3. Hypospadias

4. Phimosis

The correct answer is: Priapism

The term that describes a painful, continuous erection in a newborn male, which can be triggered by light, is priapism. Priapism is characterized by prolonged and often painful erections that occur independently of sexual stimulation. In the context of newborns, it can manifest due to various physiological responses, and the occurrence of erections in infants can sometimes be related to stimuli such as bright lights. Other terms provided do not accurately describe the condition. Erections from stimulation refer generally to erections that occur due to sexual arousal or physical touch, which is not applicable in this context, particularly for newborns. Hypospadias is a congenital condition where the urinary opening is located on the underside of the penis instead of the tip, and it does not relate to pain or continuous erections. Phimosis refers to a condition in which the foreskin cannot be easily retracted over the glans of the penis, which is a different anatomical issue and not associated with erections.