Grey's Anatomy has sparked a flurry of querie

According to the search engine Google, two of the three most searched terms at present are "penile fracture" and "broken penis".

It follows an episode of Grey's Anatomy, Stairway to Heaven, screened in the US on Thursday, in which consultant Mark Sloan - otherwise known as McSteamy - suffered a fractured penis after indulging in sex in the on-call room with Lexie Grey.

According to the episode synopsis on broadcaster ABC's website, the resulting injury sparks intense speculation among colleagues as to who is responsible for his agonising injury.

Sloan, played by Eric Dane, who also stars in Marley & Me and X-Men, is generally considered to be one of the programme's principal heart throbs, who has had romantic trysts with a large number of the main female characters.

His injury is rare but can occur, although it mainly affects young men during sexual intercourse.

Netdoctor.co.uk reports that a fracture can occur when abnormal force is applied to the erect penis, and results in a cracking noise combined with intense pain.

It is caused by a "tear in the tunica albuginea, the thick fibrous coat surrounding the corpora cavernosum tissue that produces an erection".

Most cases (75 per cent) occur on one side, 25 per cent affect both sides and in 10 per cent the tear extends into the urethra.

It is treated with pain relief, ice packs and anti-inflammatory drugs.