Human Sexuality

Flashcards for vocabulary terms related to human sexuality.

Sexuality

A union of parts producing new genetic combinations, is virtually universal in the living world.

Gametes

Specialized cells that unite in sexual union to produce the zygote.

Isogametes

Gametes that are alike in a variety of algal forms.

Functional Heterogamy

Gametes are structurally alike but function differently.

Hunger Theory of Sex

An older idea that sporelike cells originally united as gametes in order to share their food supplies.

Amoeboid Sperm

Sperm that move by means of undulations, found in nematode worms, arachnids, centipedes, and some crabs.

Midpiece

Area in sperm rich in mitochondria which provide the ATP necessary for the sculling movements of the flagella.

Protamines

Highly basic proteins that replace histones in most fish sperm.

Internal Fertilization

Adaptation to maintain an aqueous environment for gametes as well as for the developing embryo.

Amplexus

The embrace where the male mounts the female and proceeds to squeeze her sides with his thickened thumb pads.

Coitus

Sexual intercourse where an introjecting organ, the penis, is actually inserted into the reproductive tract of the female, and sperm are deposited internally.

Cloacal Kiss

Internal fertilization in birds where male and female place their cloacae (collecting chamber to outside) close together in a modified form of coitus.

Uterus

Womb, within which the embryo can develop

Placenta

Transports food, oxygen, and waste material can occur between mother and child

Androgens

Male sex hormones, or androgens, which prepare the glands and tubular conduits of the male reproductive tract for functioning.

Testes

The gonads of the male, within which the sperm are produced and androgens synthesized.

Scrotum

Loose sacs that a pouch that hangs down just behind the penis.

Interstitial Cells

Scattered among the tubules in the testis and continually secrete testosterone, the major androgen in the male.

Epididymis

A highly coiled tubular structure lying atop each testicle where Sperm produced at a steady rate in the spermatic tubules of the testicle are stored.

Vas Deferens

A long tube that joins the urethra in the region of the prostate gland.

Urethra

A tube that exits through the penis, carries urine to the exterior and, alternatively, serves as a conduit for seminal fluid.

Seminal Vesicles, Prostate Gland, Cowper’s Glands

Accessory glands of the male reproductive tract where Sperm is carried in a fluid formed.

Ejaculations

Forceful emissions caused by rhythmic waves of contraction along the lower two-thirds of the male genital tract, generally with a periodicity of 0.8 second.

Ovaries

The gonads of the female that are paired and remain within the abdominal cavity throughout life.

Fallopian Tubes

Oviducts, which lead to the thick, muscular uterus.

Uterus

Within the uterus that development of the embryo, later the fetus, will occur.

Vagina

A short corrugated tube is the vagina.

Vulva

The external sex organs—the labia majora and minora and the clitoris—that surround both the opening into the vagina and the separate opening into the urethra.

Labia

External lips (labia majora) enclose a pair of internal lips (labia minora).

Clitoris

A knob of erectile tissue lying just above the vaginal opening, is homologous to the penis of the male.

Menstrual Cycle

The series of events that periodically modifies the female reproductive tract of humans and advanced primates.

Estrous Cycle

A cycle of receptivity to sexual activity occurs that is probably less complex than the menstrual cycle.

Estrus

Experience a strong, short-lived compulsion to mate; they are said to be “in heat” or “in estrus.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)

From the hypothalamus of the brain probably moves across a tract of blood vessels called the median eminence directly to the pituitary.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Hormone produced by the Pituitary, which stimulate the ovaries to produce the female sex hormones estradiol

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Hormone produced by the Pituitary, which stimulate the ovaries to produce the female sex hormones progesterone

Prolactin

Hormone produced by the Pituitary, a hormone that acts directly upon the breast and its milk glands and also influences mineral and fluid balance.

Fibrinolysin/Plasmin

An enzyme that dissolves menstrual blood clots.

Ovulation

Release of the ovum where there is a sharp drop in estradiol and a surge in LH levels.

Menopause

The period of slackening of hormone secretions that control the menstrual cycle.

Vasocongestion

Movement and pooling of blood, is responsible for a ventral sex flush in both sexes, primary erection of both the penis and the clitoris, secondary erection of the nipples, and even the vaginal sweating phenomenon.

Myotonia

Often spasmodic contraction of muscle which produces waves of contractions along the male and female reproductive tracts and anus during orgasm.

Sexual Response Phases

Excitement, Plateau, Orgasmic, and Resolution.

Contraception

Preventing pregnancy while still maintaining sexuality.

Vasectomy

A surgically simple cutting and tying of the vas deferens near the testicles of the male.

Tubal Ligation

A parallel procedure on the fallopian tubes of the female.

Induced Abortion

An active intervention to terminate a pregnancy, is used to limit population size.

Libido

The libido, or sex urge, is a generalized propensity for tension-reducing activities, which may be expressed in a variety of ways.

Heterosexual Intercourse

Often cited as the natural expression of sexual energies.

Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual fulfillment, as well as reproductive success, is dependent on several functional levels.

Impotency

Failure to achieve or maintain an erection.

Sterility

The inability to become a biological parent.

Premature Ejaculation

A common problem in many men is premature ejaculation, in which orgasm and expulsion of semen occur within an inappropriately short span of time.