Human Sexuality Lecture Notes Review

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes to aid in exam preparation.

Orgasm Gap

The phenomenon where men are more likely to always orgasm than women; lesbian women are more likely to orgasm than straight women.

Hymen

A thin membrane covering part of the vaginal opening, also present in some other mammals.

Pseudo-penis (in female hyenas)

The elongated clitoris of female hyenas through which they urinate, copulate, and give birth.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The practice of female circumcision, involving partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Clitoridectomy

Type 1 FGM: Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and/or the prepuce.

Excision

Type 2 FGM: Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora with or without excision of the labia majora.

Infibulation

Type 3 FGM: Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with a covering seal created by cutting and re-positioning the labia minora and/or labia majora.

Deinfibulation

Surgical procedure for those who have undergone type III FGM for health, sexual intercourse, or facilitating childbirth.

Reinfibulation

Narrowing the vaginal opening again in a woman who has been de-infibulated, often done after childbirth.

Polygyny

A mating system where one male mates with multiple females; most common in mammals and used to increase reproductive fitness.

Polyandry

A mating system where a female copulates with multiple males, often associated with sex role reversal.

Promiscuity

The mating of multiple males with multiple females outside of a societal structure.

Polygynandry

The mating of multiple males with multiple females within a societal structure.

Social Monogamy

A pair that live together, maintain a sexual relationship, and share basic resources.

Genetic Monogamy

A mating system where a male and female only reproduce with each other.

Convenience polyandry

When females mate with multiple males to avoid coercive breeding.

Female defense polygyny

Males create clusters of females by herding them together.

Resource defense polygyny

Males are territorial and guard resources needed by females.

Scramble competition polygyny

Males attempt to secure as many females in a given area at a given time through a competitive searching approach.

Lekking

Male animals aggregate on an arena or "stage" to engage in competitive displacement with the goal to secure female mates.

Extra pair copulations

Mating with an individual other than their social partner even though they are part of a pair bond.

Post copulatory sperm competition

Competition between males after copulation; involves physiological events that happen after insemination.

Mate grasping

Prolonged copulations where the male and female remain in copulation, potentially lasting hours to days.

Frequent copulations

Males increase copulation events with females to prevent mating with other males; they mate more often than necessary for fertilization.

Mate Sequestering

Physical isolation where the male sequesters the female in a gallery.

Chemical isolation

Reducing attractiveness of mates, using an 'anti-aphrodisiac' substance that makes females smell like the male.

Mating Plugs

Male produced substance or structure that is transferred to the female after copulation to seal the genital opening.

Sneaker males

Immature males who use a tactic to sneak up on a female and mate without competition.

Parentage

The degree of certainty that a male has fathered offspring.

Anisogamy

The form of sexual reproduction that involves the union of two gametes which differ in size and/or form.

Forced copulations

A male reproductive strategy where they force a female to mate with them despite her resistance.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands and secreted directly into the bloodstream. They play an organizational role during development and an activation role in adults.

Estrus

The 'heat' period when the female is sexually receptive and will allow mating. Estrogen levels are high, and ovulation typically occurs during or shortly after this period.

Proestrus

The period leading up to estrus, where hormones begin to change, and the uterus lining prepares for potential pregnancy.

Metestrus

Following estrus, the corpus luteum forms and begins to produce progesterone, preparing the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized egg.

Diestrus

The longer period when the corpus luteum is fully functional and progesterone levels are high; the uterus is fully prepared for pregnancy.

Anestrus

A period of sexual inactivity or rest between cycles, often influenced by season, pregnancy, lactation, illness, or age.

GnRH

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, secreted by the hypothalamus, which initiates and regulates the ovulatory cycle.

FSH

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone; primarily responsible for stimulating the growth and development of ovarian follicles.

Short-day breeders

Animals where increased melatonin production during longer nights (autumn and winter) stimulates the reproductive axis, leading to estrous cycles and ovulation during this time.

Long-day breeders

Animals where decreased melatonin production during longer days (spring and summer) stimulates the reproductive axis, resulting in estrous cycles and ovulation during these months.

Polyestrous animals

Animals that can have multiple estrous cycles throughout the year, though seasonal variations in cycle frequency and fertility can still occur.