Human Sexuality

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Pudendum (pyoo-DEN-dum)

Back 1

The external female genitals.

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Ova

Back 2

Egg cells. (Singular: ovum.)

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Vulva

Back 3

The external sexual structures of the female.

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Mons Veneris

Back 4

A mound of fatty tissue that covers the joint of the pubic bones in front of the body, below the abdoment and above the clitoris.

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Labia Majora

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Large folds of skin that run downward from the mons along the sides of the vulva.

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Labia Minora

Back 6

Hairless, light-colored membranes, located between the labia majora.

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Clitoris

Back 7

A female sex organ consisting of a shaft and glans located above the urethral opening. It is extremely sensitive to sexual sensations.

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Corpora Cavernosa

Back 8

Masses of spongy tissue in the clitoral shaft that become engorged with blood and stiffen in response to sexual stimulation.

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Prepuce (PREE-pyoose)

Back 9

The fold of skin covering the glans of the clitoris (or penis).

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Homologous

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Similar in structure; developing from the same embryonic tissue.

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Analogous

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Similar in function.

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Urethral Opening

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The opening through which urine passes from the female's body.

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Cystitis

Back 13

An inflammation of the urinary bladder.

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Clitoridectomy

Back 14

Surgical removal of the clitoris.

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Gynecologist

Back 15

A physician who treats women's diseases, especially of the reproductive tract.

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Introitus

Back 16

The vaginal opening.

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Hymen

Back 17

A fold of tissue across the vaginal opening that is usually present at birth and remains at least partly intact until a woman engages in coitus.

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Perineum

Back 18

The skin and underlying tissue that lies between the vaginal opening and the anus.

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Episiotomy

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A surgical incision in the perineum that may be made during childbirth to protect the vagina from tearing.

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Sphincters

Back 20

Ring-shaped muscles that surround body openings and open or close them by expanding or contracting.

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Crura

Back 21

Anatomical structures resembling legs that attach the clitoris to the pubic bone.

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Vestibular Bulbs

Back 22

Cavernous structures that extend downward along the sides of the introitus and swell during sexual arousal.

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Bartholin's Glands

Back 23

Glands that lie just inside the minor lips and secrete fluid just before orgasm.

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Vagina

Back 24

The tubular female sex organ that contains the penis during sexual intercourse and through which a baby is born.

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Douche

Back 25

Application of a jet of liquid to the vagina as a rinse.

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Vaginitis

Back 26

Vaginal inflammation.

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Cervix

Back 27

The lower end of the uterus.

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Os

Back 28

The opening in the middle of the cervix.

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Pap Test

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A test of a sample of cervical cells that screens for cervical cancer and other abnormalities.

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Radiotherapy

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Treatment of a disease by X-rays or by emissions from a radioactive substance.

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Uterus

Back 31

The hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ in which a fertilized ovum implants and develops until birth.

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Fundus

Back 32

The uppermost part of the uterus.

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Endometrium

Back 33

The innermost layer of the uterus.

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Endometriosis

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A condition caused by the growth of endometrial tissue in the abdominal cavity or elsewhere outside the uterus and characterized by menstrual pain.

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Myometrium

Back 35

The middle, well-muscled layer of the uterus.

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Perimetrium

Back 36

The outer layer of the uterus.

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Hysterectomy

Back 37

Surgical removal of the uterus.

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Complete Hysterectomy

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Surgical removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and uterus.

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Partial Hysterectomy

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Surgical removal of the uterus but not the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

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Fallopian Tubes

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Tubes that extend from the upper uterus twoard the ovaries and conduct ova to the uterus.

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Ectopic Pregnancy

Back 41

A pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.

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Ovaries

Back 42

Almond-shaped organs that produce ova and the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

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Estrogen

Back 43

A generic term for female sex hormonse (including estradiol, estriol, estrone, and others) or synthetic compounds that promote the development of female sex characteristics and regulate the menstrual cycle.

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Progesterone

Back 44

A steroid hormone secreted by the corpus luteum or prepared synthetically that stimulates proliferation of the endometrium and is involved in regulation of the menstrual cycle.

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Follicle

Back 45

A capsule within and ovary that contains an ovum.

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Secondary Sex Characteristics

Back 46

Traits that distinguish women from men but are not directly involved in reproduction.

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Mammary Glands

Back 47

Milk-secreting glands.

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Areola

Back 48

The dark ring on the breast that encircles the nipple.

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Mammography

Back 49

A special type of X-ray test that detects cancerous lumps in the breast.

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Cysts

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Saclike structures filled with fluid or diseased material.

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Benign

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Doing little or no harm.

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Fibroadenoma

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A benign, fibrous tumor.

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Malignant

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Lethal; causing or likely to cause death.

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Lumpectomy

Back 54

Surgical removal of a lump from the breast.

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Mastectomy

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Surgical removal of the entire breast.

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Menstruation

Back 56

The cylical bleeding that stems from the shedding of the uterine lining (endometrium).

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Ovulation

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The release of an ovum from an ovary.

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Corpus Luteum

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The follicle that has released an ovum and then produces copious amounts of progesterone and estrogen during the luteal phase of a woman's cycle.

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Endocrine Gland

Back 59

A ductless gland that releases its secretions directly into the bloodstream.

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Menarche

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The first menstrual period.

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Hypothalamus

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A bundle of neural cell bodies near the center of the brain that are involved in regulating body termperature, motivation, and emotion.

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Pituitary Gland

Back 62

The gland that secretes growth hormone, prolactin, oxytocin, and others.

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Hormone

Back 63

A substance secreted by an endocrine gland that regulates various body functions.

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Testes

Back 64

The male gonads.

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Testosterone

Back 65

The male sex hormone that fosters the development of male sex characteristics and is connected with the sex drive.

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Prolactin

Back 66

A pituitary hormones that stimulates production of milk.

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Oxytocin

Back 67

A pituitary hormone that stimulates uterine contractions in labor and the ejection of milk during nursing.

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Gonadotropins

Back 68

Pituitary hormones that stimulate the gonads.

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Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Back 69

A gonadotropin that stimulates development of follicles in the ovaries.

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Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

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A gonadotropin that helps regulate the menstrual cycle by triggering ovulation.

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Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (Gn-RH)

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A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary to release gonadotropins.

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Proliferative Phase

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The first phase of the menstrual cycle, which begins with the end of menstruation and lasts about nine or ten days. During this phase, the endometrium proliferates.

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Ovulatory Phase

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The second stage of the menstrual cycle, during which a follicle ruptures and releases a mature ovum.

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Zygote

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A fertilized ovum (egg cell).

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Clomiphene

Back 75

A synthetic hormone that is chemically similar to LH and induces ovulation.

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Mittelschmerz

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Pain that occurs during ovulation.

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Secretory Phase

Back 77

The third phase of the menstrual cycle, which follows ovulation. Also referred to as the luteal phase, after the corpus luteum, which begins to secrete large amounts of progesterone and estrogen following ovulation.

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Menstrual Phase

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The fourth phase of the menstrual cycle, during which the endometrium is sloughed off in the menstrual flow.

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Tampon

Back 79

A cylindrical plug of cotton that is inserted into the vagina and left in place to absorb menstrual fluid.

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Menopause

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The cessation of menstruation.

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Perimenopause

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The beginning of menopause, as characterized by 3 to 11 months of amenorrhea or irregular periods.

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Climacteric

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A long-term process, including menopause, that involves the gradual decline in the reproductive capacity of the ovaries.

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Osteoporosis

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A condition caused by estrogen deficiency and characterized by a decline in bone density, such that bones become porous and brittle.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

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Replacement of naturally occurring estrogen or estrogen and progesterone with synthetic equivalents, following menopause.

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Dysmenorrhea

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Pain or discomfort during menstruation.

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Primary Dysmenorrhea

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Menstrual pain or discomfort that occurs in the absence of known organic problems.

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Secondary Dysmenorrhea

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Menstrual pain or discomfort that is caused by identified organic problems.

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Prostaglandins

Back 88

Hormones that cause muscle fibers in the uterine wall to contract, as during labor.

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Mastalgia

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A swelling of the breasts that sometimes causes premenstrual discomfort.

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Amenorrhea

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The absence of menstruation.

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Primary Amenorrhea

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Lack of menstruation in a woman who has never menstruated.

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Secondary Amenorrhea

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Lack of menstruation in a woman who has previously menstruated.

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Anorexia Nervosa

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A psychological disorder of eating characterized by intense fear of putting on weight and refusal to eat enough to maintain normal body weight.

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Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

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A combination of physical and psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, irritability, weight gain from fluid retention, and abdominal discomfort) that regularly afflicts many women during the four-to-sex-day interval that precedes their menses each month.

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Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

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A diagnosis used by the American Psychiatric Association to describe cases of PMS that are characterized by severe changes in mood and impairment and functioning at work, at school or in social relationships.