Tags & Description
Latin: “tail”: Organ for both sexual intercourse and urination.
Average length 2.5-4 in. (flacid) and 6- even 13 in. erect.
Penis
Base of penis, anchored to pelvic bones by crura.
Root
Body of the penis.
Shaft
“crown”: Sensitive ridge between glans and shaft.
Corona
Extremely sensitive tissue on underside of penis connects glans and shaft.
Frenulum
Heavily innervated tip of penis.
Glans
Passage for semen and urine.
Meatus: Urethral opening
Urethra
Two columns of spongy erectile tissue along the top of the penis.
Corpora cavernosa
Spongy tissue surrounding the urethra running underneath the penis.
Corpus spongiosum
Nerve fibers swell the arteries of the penis, allowing blood to rush into the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.
Is a reflex that can occur without tactile stimulation, as in spinal injuries or during sleep.
Errection
Layer of skin that forms a sheath over the shaft and glans.
(Foreskin)
Prepuce
Cutting and removal of the prepuce.
Circumcision
Glands under the foreskin- produce smegma.
Tyson’s glands
Pouch of loose skin that holds testes.
Scrotum
Raises and lowers testes in response to temperature changes and arousal- maintains optimal spermatogenesis.
Cremaster muscle
Manufacture sperm and steroid hormones.
Testes
Produce testosterone.
Leydig cells
Sperm-producing tubes winding through the testes.
Seminiferous tubules
Sperm production.
Spermatogenesis
Develops in the cells lining the outer wall of the seminiferous tubules and move toward the center
Spermatogonium
During the 8th and 9th month the testicles descend into the scrotum through the inguinal canal.
occurs if the testicles do not descend.
Due to higher temperature of the abdomen, sperm production cannot take place, and the infertility results if testes are not moved during childhood.
Testicles that remain in the abdomen are at an increased risk of developing cancer.
in infants can be treated with surgery.
Cryptorchidism
Twisting of a testicle’s spermatic cord- typically results from abnormal development of the spermatic cord or membrane covering the testicle.
Most common from puberty to age 25, but can happen at any age after exercise, intercourse, or sleeping.
Testicular Torsion
Severe pain and swelling, abdominal pain, tenderness and aching may also occur.
A physician must diagnose and untwist the cord with 24 hours to prevent the loss of the testicle.
Symptoms of Cryptorchidism
Painful and persistent erection that is not associated with sexual desire/excitement.
Due to blood becoming trapped in the penis erectile tissue.
Drug use (cocaine, marijuana, or anticoagulants) is most common cause, although in many cases the cause is unknown.
Erectile dysfunction drugs taken recreationally.
Priapism
Draining blood from the penis w a syringe.
Surgery may be necessary in some cases.
Sexual functioning may be affected if effective treatment does not occur.
Treatment for Priapism
Abnormal calcifications in the penis which may cause painful curvature which may make intercourse difficult or impossible.
Crystal deposits in the connective tissue, trauma, high calcium levels, or calcification may contribute to the disease.
Peyronie’s Disease
It typically lasts 2 years and may disappear suddenly
Can be treated with medication or surgery
Treatment for Peyronie’s Disease
Causes a scrotal mass (or a cyst) due to excessive fluid accumulation within tissue surrounding testicle.
It may be due to the overproduction of fluid or poor reabsorption of fluid and may lead to pain and swelling.
Hydrocele
Removing the fluid
Treatment for Hydrocele
A dime size area in the lower third of the front part of the vagina.
Stimulation of this leads to pleasant sensation and arousal for some women and can result in orgasms possibly accompanied by the forceful expulsion of fluid, leading to the term “female ejaculation”
Grafenberg Spot (G-spot) and Female Ejaculation
Lasts from 3-5 years and begins around 8yrs, but varies with race and weight (critical fat hypothesis). With puberty, the pituitary gland begins to secrete the hormones FSH and LH which stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen.
Estrogen leads to the development of various characteristics such as breast and pubic hair growth.
Female Puberty
Around the age of 11 or 12 girls begin to ovulate, and some women feel a slight pain or sensation
Mittelschmerz
lasts about 28 days, when the uterine lining builds up to prepare for a possible pregnancy.
The menstrual cycle
Four (Five) Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
Menstruation
Preovulatory phase
Ovulatory phase
Premenstrual/Luteal phase
Menstrual phase
days 1-6, 7.
(Latin mensis: “month”): the shedding of the endometrium and unfertilized ova.
Menstruation
days 7-13.
The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone to the ovaries to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which stimulates egg maturation and estrogen production.
Proliferative/Follicular/Preovulatory Phase
days 14-17.
Estrogen binds to receptors in the hypothalamus which over time stops the production of FSH and begins the production of luteinizing hormone (LH) which causes the mature ovum to burst out of its follicle (ovulation).
Ovulatory phase
changes- becomes more alkaline and more liquidized, which assists in sperm transport.
Cervical Mucus
Ovulation does not occur in every menstrual cycle.
Occur once or twice a year in women 20-30 years old and are more common in women who have just begun to menstruate or are nearing menopause.
Anovulatory cycles
days 18-28.
After releasing the egg, the follicle turns into a corpus luteum, which then manufactures progesterone and estrogen in case of pregnancy.
If pregnancy occurs: the placenta develops and levels of progesterone and estrogen increase.
If not: Progesterone and estrogen levels are maintained until ovum goes unfertilized, then plunge with the degeneration of the corpus luteum.
Premenstrual/Luteal phase
low levels of progesterone and estrogen lead to endometrial shedding.
This is about 2 ounces (4 tablespoons). The decline in estrogen causes an increase of FSH and the whole cycle begins again.
Menstrual phase
When the endometrium grows in places other than the uterus- ovaries, fallopian tubes, rectum, bladder, vagina, vulva, etc.
Endometriosis
painful periods that last unusually long times are the most common.
This can lead to sterility if untreated. Surgery may be necessary.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
caused by staphylococcus bacterial growth in the vagina.
Linked to tampon use.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
10% death rate.
Tampons should be changed often and used for shorter periods.
Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
Window when eggs are being matured
LH triggers the egg to come down (ovulation)
Days 7-13
Estrogen
Hormone that triggers the shut down of FSH
idea that there are only 2 genders (M/F).
The concept of a binary is based on statistical normality- the majority of a species- but not the entirety of a species.
Gender binary
culturally defined behaviors seen as appropriate for males and females
Gender roles
biologically determined gender-specific behaviors
Gender traits
one’s private sense of gender (e.g., M/F).
Gender Identity
Sandra Bem (1981; 1983; 1987)
organize our thinking about gender as determined by culture.
becomes so ingrained that people do not even realize they are created by stereotypes.
Gender Schema Theory: Our Cultural Maps
people who identify or express themselves within the gender roles of the society, or “sex & gender match”.
Cisgender
people who identify or express themselves outside or separately from their biological sex- supposed to be generally applied to individuals whose appearance and behaviors do not conform to gender roles in that society.
Transgender
Gender identity is inconsistent with his/her biological sex: can create gender dysphoria/ Gender Identity disorder.
Onset of trans identity when gender identity develops in early childhood.
This has existed for centuries and some socities consider this a third gender.
Transsexuals
the gender or genders that a person is attracted to emotionally, physically, sexually, and romantically.
not defined solely by sexual behavior
does not imply gender identity
Sexual orientation
7-point scale ranging from exclusively heterosexual behavior (0) to exclusively homosexual behavior (6).
First to suggest that people engaged in complex sexual behaviors and not just “homosexual” and “heterosexual”.
Males: 2-4% to over 10%
Females: 1-3%. Bisexuals: 3%.
Percentages remain constant regardless of cultural acceptance. However, methods of measurement change
The Kinsey Continuum
homosexuality,
men,
a single biological basis,
and confuses ___________ and gender
Research on orientation has historically focused on:
Males: Orientation may be genetically linked (twins).
Hamer found homosexual males had more homosexual relatives on the mother’s side, and ‘identified a “gay” gene’ (no).
Genetics
Males: homosexual men had lower levels of androgens than heterosexuals during sexual brain differentiation.
Others found higher levels of androgens (digit ratio studies). Some have not found a relationship.
Hormones, Prenatal Factors
Blanchard and Bogaert: Males: Fraternal ___ ___ contributes to a homosexual orientation: placental cells in the uterus influence later pregnancies-
children born later could develop an immune response that influences gene expression.
Birth Order
LeVay, 1991. Males: differences in the hypothalamus between gay men and heterosexual men.
Physiology
493,001 participants from US, UK, and Sweden. Examined entire genome- 5 autosomal genes were associated with same-sex behavior.
All tested genetic variants accounted for 8 to 25% of the variation in same-sex sexual behavior.
Genetic effects that differentiate heterosexual from same-sex sexual behavior are not the same as those that differ among nonheterosexuals in terms of number of partners, which suggests that there is no single continuum from opposite-sex to same-sex preference.
Ganna, et al, 2019
Asian Countries
Buddhism does not condemn homosexuality so Buddhist countries generally accept it.
Latin American Countries
A man is not considered a homosexual if he takes the active, insertive role. Sexual orientation is conflated with gender roles
Believed that mother’s milk must be replaced with man’s milk (semen) for a boy to reach puberty.
At 7yrs, boys begin oral sex with older men to ingest semen
After puberty, the boy switches to the receiving role until 19, when he engages in primarily heterosexual relations.
What is considered homosexual behavior in other cultures is not ‘homosexual’ here.
Sambia (Papa New Guinea)
Lesbianism was rarely explicitly illegal in most ancient societies
Homosexuality was not treated with concern/interest by either early Jews or Christians.
Homosexual activity was common- homosexual prostitution was taxed by the state.
The Ancient World
Homosexual relations were not forbidden despite many sexual codes based on Church teachings.
But by 1300, homosexuality was punishable by death in Europe, influencing the Western view of homosexuality for 700 yrs.
The Middle Ages
Homosexuals were imprisoned and murdered
Western, predominantly Christian, societies have often existed without hostility to homosexuality
Nazi Germany
Arousal and orgasm is physiologically no different.
Gay and Lesbian couples were less “goal oriented” than heterosexual couples.
Masters & Johnson (1979)
Gay/lesbian couples have dominant and submissive partners.
Myth about Gay and Lesbian Sexual Response
Relationships are actually characterized by greater role flexibility and partner equality and lower levels of jealousy.
Truth about Gay and Lesbian Sexual Response
the Vulva
External Female Sex Organ
fatty tissue cushioning pubic bone, covered in pubic hair
Mons veneris/pubis
only known organ that functions solely for sexual pleasure.
Varies in size.
It is richly supplied with blood vessels and a higher concentration of nerve fibers than anywhere else on the body.
Clitoris
erectile tissue (corpora cavernosa) that fills with blood during arousal.
Clitoral Shaft
hood covering clitoris.
Prepuce
smooth round tip of clitoral shaft. 8.000 nerve endings.
Glans
In some cultures, the clitoris and possibly other sexual organs are removed during circumcision.
Clitorectomy or infibulation
outer, larger folds of skin that shield the labia minora
Labia majora
inner folds that are thinner and hairless.
Cover the urethral and vaginal openings.
Differ considerably in appearance in different women.
They contain oil glands and join at the clitoris to form the prepuce or "hood" of the clitoris.
Labia Minora
region between the labia minora,
containing the opening of the urethra and the vagina and the ducts of the Bartholin's glands
Vestibule
vaginal opening, just below urethral opening.
Introitus
fold of tissue across the vaginal opening, usually present at birth and usually removed during Ist coitus.
The hymen can take many forms and vary by individual.
Hymen