Human Sexuality Exam 2

What are hormones?

Chemical messengers that coordinate body functions by carrying messages through the blood to organs, skin, muscles, and other tissues.

What are the main sex hormones?

Testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

It helps regulate hunger, thirst, sleep, and sex drive.

What is the pituitary gland?

The master gland.

What are the gonads?

The ovaries in females and testes in males.

What are the female sex chromosomes?

XX.

What are the male sex chromosomes?

XY.

What determines genetic sex?

The sex chromosomes present at conception.

What is the SRY gene?

The Sex-determining Region of the Y chromosome gene that stimulates development of male sex characteristics.

When does the SRY gene become active?

Around 6 weeks of prenatal development.

What are gonads?

Reproductive glands that develop into ovaries in females or testes in males.

What does the Müllerian duct develop into?

Female reproductive structures.

What does the Wolffian duct develop into?

Male reproductive structures.

When do the external sex organs become visible?

About 12 weeks after conception.

When is the female reproductive system fully developed prenatally?

About 20 weeks after conception.

When do the testes begin descending into the scrotum?

About 20 weeks after conception.

When do the testes reach the scrotum?

About 25 weeks after conception.

What are homologous sex organs?

Sex organs that develop from the same embryonic tissue.

What male organ is homologous to the ovaries?

The testes.

What male organ is homologous to the clitoris?

The penis.

What male structure is homologous to the outer lips?

The scrotum.

What is puberty?

The period of sexual maturity when an individual becomes capable of reproduction.

What causes puberty to begin?

An increase in sex hormones.

When does puberty generally begin in females?

Between ages 8 and 12.

When does puberty generally begin in males?

Between ages 10 and 14.

What factors can influence the beginning of puberty?

Genes, food availability and nutritional status, estrogen-mimicking chemicals, and major life stress.

What changes occur during female puberty?

Increased fatty tissue in breasts, buttocks, and hips; pubic and underarm hair; height growth; menarche; pelvic widening; uterine growth.

What is menarche?

The first menstruation.

What changes occur during male puberty?

Growth of testes and scrotum, pubic and facial hair, height, penis growth, voice changes, and increased erections.

What is adolescence?

A period of development defined by social-cultural factors.

How long is adolescence?

A long period of time in America.

What four changes can delay adulthood?

Technology, sexual birth control, expanded opportunities for women, and youth delaying work or children.

What are the four phases of the menstrual cycle?

Menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase.

What happens to cervical mucus at the beginning of the menstrual cycle?

It is thick.

What happens to cervical mucus just before ovulation?

It becomes thin and watery.

What happens to cervical mucus after ovulation?

It becomes thick again.

What happens to basal body temperature on the day of ovulation?

It dips.

What happens to basal body temperature after ovulation?

It rises.

What is dysmenorrhea?

Painful menstruation.

What may help relieve menstrual cramps according to the notes?

Having an orgasm.

What is endometriosis?

A condition in which uterine lining tissue grows somewhere else.

What is a common symptom of endometriosis?

Very painful periods that last a long time.

What is amenorrhea?

Absence of menstruation.

What is polycystic ovarian syndrome associated with?

Ovaries producing excess androgens such as testosterone.

How does conception occur?

An egg and sperm unite.

What is a fertilized egg called?

A zygote.

When does the zygote implant in the uterine lining?

About 5-7 days after fertilization.

What is the embryonic period?

The first 8 weeks of development.

What is the fetal period?

The period beginning after the embryonic period.

What is the placenta?

An organ on the uterine wall that provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.

What is the function of the amniotic sac and amniotic fluid?

They cushion the fetus.

What is the function of the umbilical cord?

It connects the fetus to the placenta.

What hormone do pregnancy tests detect?

A hormone secreted by the placenta.

What is a spontaneous abortion?

A miscarriage in which pregnancy ends through natural causes.

When do most spontaneous abortions occur?

During the first trimester.

What is infertility?

A woman's inability to conceive or give birth or a man's inability to impregnate a woman.

When is a couple considered infertile?

After one year of unprotected sex without conception.

What is the main cause of infertility?

STIs.

What is artificial insemination?

Artificially inserting semen into the vagina.

What is in vitro fertilization?

Eggs and sperm are combined outside the body to achieve fertilization.

What is GIFT?

Gamete intrafallopian transfer, in which the gamete is placed in the fallopian tube.

What is ZIFT?

Zygote intrafallopian transfer.

What weeks make up the first trimester?

The first 12 weeks.

What weeks make up the second trimester?

Weeks 13-26.

What weeks make up the third trimester?

Weeks 27-38.

What are Braxton-Hicks contractions?

Contractions that may occur during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester.

Is sex during pregnancy generally considered safe?

Yes.

How does frequency of sex commonly change during the third trimester?

It tends to decrease.

How long are couples advised to wait postpartum before vaginal intercourse?

At least 2-6 weeks.

What marks the beginning of labor?

Discharge of the mucus plug, possible rupture of the amniotic bag, and increasing Braxton-Hicks contractions.

What is the first stage of labor?

Dilation.

How long can the first stage of labor last?

About 2-24 hours.

What happens during the first stage of labor?

Regular contractions begin, the cervix effaces and dilates, and the stage ends at 10 cm dilation.

What is effacement?

Thinning of the cervix.

What is dilation?

Opening of the cervix.

How dilated is the cervix at the end of the first stage of labor?

10 cm.

What happens during the second stage of labor?

The baby's head moves toward the vagina, crowning occurs, and the baby is born.

What is crowning?

When the baby's head becomes visible at the vaginal opening.

What is an episiotomy?

Cutting the perineum to expand the vaginal opening and prevent tearing.

What happens during the third stage of labor?

The placenta detaches from the uterine wall and is expelled.

What is a cesarean section?

Surgical removal of the baby through an incision in the abdomen.

When is a cesarean section performed?

For health reasons, it is often overperformed in the United States.

When is colostrum produced?

During the first 2-5 days after birth.

When does true lactation begin?

After the first 2-5 days.

What is the breastfeeding recommendation in the notes?

Breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, then slowly add food, and continue breastfeeding for at least 1 year.

What is a breastfeeding benefit for the mother?

Reduced risk of breast cancer.

What are breastfeeding benefits for the infant?

Ideal nutrition, antibodies, and reduced risk of diseases, infections, and SIDS.

What are the hormonal methods of birth control?

Pill, patch, vaginal ring, and injection.

How do hormonal contraceptives work?

They prevent ovulation, inhibit endometrial growth, and increase cervical mucus.

What is the combination birth control pill?

A cycle of active and inactive pills containing estrogen and progestin in the active pills.

How long is each birth control patch worn?

7 days.

What is the typical patch schedule?

3 weeks of patches followed by 1 patch-free week.

How long does the vaginal ring remain in place?

21 days.

What happens after the vaginal ring is removed?

It is followed by a 7-day ring-free period.

What hormone is used in the contraceptive shot?

Progestin.

How often is the contraceptive shot repeated?

Every 3 months.

What are long-acting reversible contraceptives?

Methods lasting more than a year that are reversible.

What are the two LARC methods listed in the notes?

Implants and intrauterine devices.

How do LARCs work?

They suppress ovulation, inhibit endometrial growth, and increase cervical mucus.

What is a contraceptive implant?

Thin progestin-containing rods or tubes inserted under the skin.