Human Sexuality Terms From Chapter 7 Of Human Sexuality

Front 1

Sexual value system

Back 1

The sum of all thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that have an erotic meaning for a particular individual

Front 2

Penile strain guage

Back 2

A narrow metallic or rubber noose that fits around the base of the penis and sends electrical messages to devices that record increases in the circumference of the penis during erection

Front 3

Vagainal photoplethysmograph

Back 3

A small deevice inserted into the vagina that measures the engorgement of blood vessels during sexual arousal

Front 4

Nocturnal penile tumescence

Back 4

Penile erections during sleep

Front 5

Spinal cord

Back 5

Part of the central nervous system located inside of the vertebral column. Sensory messages ascend to the brain and motor messages descend from the brain through the spinal cord.

Front 6

Reflex

Back 6

The simplest stimulus-response connection of which the nervous system is capable

Front 7

Nucleus

Back 7

A well-defined, discrete collection of nerve cells inside the central nervous system

Front 8

Limbic system

Back 8

A circuit of subcotical brain structures that play an important role in the experience and expression of emotions

Front 9

Autonomic nervous system

Back 9

Part of the peripheral nervous system, made up of two separate brances, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. Internal organs, blood vessels, and endocrine glands receive nerve fibers from the autonomic nervous system.

Front 10

Sympathetic nervous system

Back 10

Branch of the autonomic nervous system that activates physiological responses in "fight-or-flight" conditions

Front 11

Parasympathetic nervous system

Back 11

Branch of the autonomic nervous system that regulates heart rate, respiratory rate, and metabolic and digestive activity under normal physiological conditions

Front 12

Vasocongestion

Back 12

The gradual accumulation of blood in blood vessels. Vasocongestion in the genitalia and lower pelvis accompanies sexual arousal in women and men.

Front 13

Detumescence

Back 13

A shortening and softening of an erect penis. Ejaculation may or may not preced detumescence.

Front 14

Refractory period

Back 14

The post-ejaculatory interval in men during which continued erotic stimulation is ineffective in rearousing the individual

Front 15

Habituation

Back 15

A very simple form of learning in which repeated presentation of a stimulus lead to progressively diminisheed behavioral responses

Front 16

Aphrodisiac

Back 16

Substances that are supposed to enhance erotic perceptions and sexual performance.

Front 17

Anaphrodisiac

Back 17

Drugs that are thought to inhibit or diminish sexual arousal and that may foster disinterestedness in sexual interaction

Front 18

Pheromone

Back 18

Air-borne hormones that affect complex behaviors in some subhuman species. Some of these agents act as sex attractors. The existence of human pheremones is debated.