Lordosis behavior

Lordosis behavior, also known as mammalian lordosis (Greek lordōsis, from lordos 'bent backward') or presenting, is the naturally occurring body posture for sexual receptivity to copulation present in most mammals including rodents, elephants, and cats. The primary characteristics of the behavior are a lowering of the forelimbs but with the rear limbs extended and hips raised, ventral arching of the spine and a raising, or sideward displacement, of the tail. During lordosis, the spine curves dorsoventrally so that its apex points towards the abdomen. Lordosis behavior, also known as mammalian lordosis (Greek lordōsis, from lordos 'bent backward') or presenting, is the naturally occurring body posture for sexual receptivity to copulation present in most mammals including rodents, elephants, and cats. The primary characteristics of the behavior are a lowering of the forelimbs but with the rear limbs extended and hips raised, ventral arching of the spine and a raising, or sideward displacement, of the tail. During lordosis, the spine curves dorsoventrally so that its apex points towards the abdomen. The lordosis reflex is hardwired in the brain, controlled by hormones in the hypothalamus, triggered by touch stimuli on flanks, rump, tailbase or perineum, and facilitated by vaginal stimulation and by sexual pheromones. Lordosis is a reflex action that causes many non-primate female mammals to adopt a body position that is often crucial to reproductive behavior. The posture moves the pelvic tilt in an anterior direction, with the posterior pelvis rising up, the bottom angling backward and the front angling downward. Lordosis aids in copulation as it elevates the hips, thereby facilitating penetration by the penis. It is commonly seen in female mammals during estrus (being 'in heat'). Lordosis occurs during copulation itself and in some species, like cat, during pre-copulatory behavior. Lordosis brain circuits are connected with other innate sexual circuits, especially olfactory circuits and reward system.