LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to:

Describe the structure and function of the female and male sex organs.

Explain the changes in sexual functioning that occur over the course of a
person’s life.

Describe the various ways human sexuality can be expressed.

Describe guidelines for safe, responsible sexual behavior.

Describe the physical and emotional changes a pregnant woman typically
experiences.

Discuss the stages of fetal development.

List the important concepts of good prenatal care.

Outline the process of labor and delivery.
KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
sexuality A dimension of personality shaped by biological, psychosocial, and cultural
forces and concerning all aspects of sexual behavior.
gonads The primary reproductive organs that produce germ cells and sex hormones;
the ovaries and testes.
germ cells Sperm and ova (eggs).
ovum Germ cell produced by a female, which combines with a male germ cell (sperm)
to create a fetus; plural, ova. Also called an egg.
sperm A germ cell produced by a male, which combines with a female germ cell
(ovum) to create a fetus.
vulva The external female genitals, or sex organs.
clitoris The highly sensitive female genital structure.
prepuce The foreskin of the clitoris or penis.
urethra The duct that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
vagina The passage leading from the female genitals to the internal reproductive
organs; the birth canal.
cervix The end of the uterus opening toward the vagina.
uterus The hollow, thick-walled, muscular organ in which the fertilized egg develops;
the womb.
fetus The developmental stage of a human from the 9th week after conception to the
moment of birth.
fallopian tube A duct that guides a mature ovum from the ovary to the uterus. Also
called an oviduct.
ovary One of two female reproductive glands that produce ova (eggs) and sex
hormones; ovaries are the female gonads.
penis The male genital structure consisting of spongy tissue that becomes engorged
with blood during sexual excitement.
scrotum The loose sac of skin and muscle fibers that contains the testes.
testis One of two male gonads, the site of sperm production; plural, testes. Also called
testicle
epididymis A storage duct for maturing sperm, located on the surface of each testis.
vas deferens A tube that carries sperm from the epididymis through the prostate
gland to the seminal vesicles; plural, vasa deferentia.
prostate gland An organ in the male reproductive system; produces some of the fluid
in semen, which helps transport and nourish sperm.
seminal vesicle A tube leading from the vas deferens to the ejaculatory duct;
secretes nutrients for the semen.
ejaculatory duct A tube that carries mature sperm to the urethra so they can exit the
body upon ejaculation.
Cowper’s gland In the male reproductive system, a small organ that produces preejaculatory fluid.
glans The rounded head of the penis or the clitoris.
circumcision Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
androgens Male sex hormones produced by the testes in males and by the adrenal
glands in both sexes.
estrogens A class of female sex hormones, produced by the ovaries, that bring about
sexual maturation at puberty and maintain reproductive functions.
progestins A class of female sex hormones, produced by the ovaries, that sustain
reproductive functions.
adrenal glands Endocrine glands, located over the kidneys, that produce androgens
(among other hormones).
pituitary gland An endocrine gland at the base of the brain that produces folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), among others.
hypothalamus A region of the brain above the pituitary gland whose hormones
control the secretions of the pituitary; also involved in the nervous control of sexual
functions.
sex chromosomes The X and Y chromosomes, which determine an individual’s
biological sex.
testosterone The most important androgen (male sex hormone); stimulates an
embryo to develop into a male and induces the development of male secondary sex
characteristics during puberty.
puberty The period of biological maturation during adolescence.
progesterone The most important progestin (female sex hormone); induces the
development of female secondary sex characteristics during puberty, regulates the
menstrual cycle, and sustains pregnancy.
menstrual cycle The monthly ovarian cycle, regulated by hormones; in the absence
of pregnancy, menstruation occurs.
menarche The first menstrual period, experienced by most young women at some
point during adolescence.
menses The portion of the menstrual cycle characterized by menstrual flow.
follicle A saclike structure within the ovary, in which eggs (ova) mature.
endometrium The lining of the uterus.
ovulation The release of a mature egg (ovum) from an ovary.
corpus luteum The part of the ovarian follicle left after ovulation, which secretes
estrogen and progesterone during the second half of the menstrual cycle.
dysmenorrhea Painful or problematic menstruation.
premenstrual tension Mild physical and emotional changes associated with the time
before the onset of menses; symptoms can include abdominal cramping and
backache.
premenstrual syndrome (PMS) A disorder characterized by physical discomfort,
psychological distress, and behavioral changes that begin after ovulation and cease
when menstruation begins.
premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) Severe form of PMS, characterized by
symptoms serious enough to interfere with work or school or with social activities and
relationships.
menopause The cessation of menstruation, occurring gradually around age 50.
erogenous zone Any region of the body highly responsive to sexual stimulation.
vasocongestion The accumulation of blood in tissues and organs.
orgasm The discharge of accumulated sexual tension with characteristic genital and
bodily manifestations and a subjective sensation of intense pleasure.
semen Seminal fluid, consisting of sperm cells and secretions from the prostate gland
and seminal vesicles.
sexual dysfunction A disturbance in sexual desire, performance, or satisfaction.
erectile dysfunction The inability to have or maintain an erection.
premature ejaculation Involuntary orgasm before or shortly after the penis enters the
vagina or anus; ejaculation that takes place sooner than desired.
retarded ejaculation The inability to ejaculate when one wishes to during intercourse.
orgasmic dysfunction The inability to experience orgasm.
masturbation Self-stimulation for the purpose of sexual arousal and orgasm.
celibacy Continuous abstention from sexual activity.
autoeroticism Behavior aimed at sexual self-stimulation.
erotic fantasy Sexually arousing thoughts and daydreams.
foreplay Kissing, touching, and any form of oral or genital contact that stimulates
people toward intercourse.
cunnilingus Oral stimulation of the female genitals.
fellatio Oral stimulation of the penis.
sexual intercourse Sexual relations involving genital union; also called coitus, and
also known as making love.
sexual coercion The use of physical or psychological force or intimidation to make a
person submit to sexual demands.
pornography The explicit or obscene depiction of sexual activities in pictures, writing,
or other material.
cybersex Erotic interaction between people who are not in physical contact,
conducted over a network such as the Internet; also called virtual sex.
prostitution The exchange of sexual services for money.
fertilization The initiation of biological reproduction: the union of the nucleus of an
egg cell with the nucleus of a sperm cell.
gene The basic unit of heredity; a section of a chromosome containing chemical
instructions for making a particular protein.
fraternal twins Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; not genetically
identical.
identical twins Twins who develop from the division of a single zygote; genetically
identical.
infertility The inability to conceive after trying for a year or more.
assisted reproductive technology (ART) Advanced medical techniques used to
treat infertility.
artificial (intrauterine) insemination The introduction of semen into the vagina by
artificial means, usually by syringe.
in vitro fertilization (IVF) Combining egg and sperm outside of the body and inserting
the fertilized egg into the uterus.
gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) Surgically introducing eggs and sperm into the
fallopian tube before fertilization.
zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) Surgically introducing a fertilized egg into the
fallopian tube.
trimester One of the three 3-month periods of pregnancy.
human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) A hormone produced by the fertilized egg
that can be detected in the urine or blood of the mother within a few weeks of
conception.
lightening A process in which the uterus sinks down because the baby’s head settles
into the pelvic area.
blastocyst A stage of development, days 6-14, when the cell cluster becomes the
embryo and placenta.
embryo The stage of development between blastocyst and fetus, about weeks 2-8.
placenta The organ through which the fetus receives nourishment and empties waste
via the mother’s circulatory system; after birth, the placenta is expelled from the uterus.
umbilical cord The cord connecting the placenta and fetus, through which nutrients
pass.
amniotic sac A membranous pouch enclosing and protecting the fetus, containing
amniotic fluid.
ultrasonography The use of high-frequency sound waves to view the fetus in the
uterus; also known as ultrasound.
sonogram The visual image of the fetus produced by ultrasonography.
amniocentesis A process in which amniotic fluid is removed and analyzed to detect
possible birth defects.
chorionic villus sampling (CVS) Surgical removal of a tiny section of chorionic villi to
be analyzed for genetic defects.
quadruple marker screen (QMS) A measurement of four hormones, used to assess
the risk of fetal abnormalities.
Rh factor A protein found in blood; Rh incompatibility between a mother and fetus can
jeopardize the fetus’s health.
teratogen An agent or influence that causes physical defects in a developing fetus.
congenital malformation A physical defect existing at the time of birth, either
inherited or caused during gestation.
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) A combination of birth defects caused by excessive
alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy.
ectopic pregnancy A pregnancy in which the embryo develops outside of the uterus,
usually in the fallopian tube.
preeclampsia A condition of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and
protein in the urine.
eclampsia A severe, potentially life-threatening form of preeclampsia, characterized
by seizures.
placenta previa A complication of pregnancy in which the placenta covers the
cervical opening, preventing the mother from delivering the baby vaginally.
placental abruption A complication of pregnancy in which a normally implanted
placenta prematurely separates from the uterine wall.
gestational diabetes (GDM) A form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.
low birth weight (LBW) Weighing less than 5.5 pounds at birth, often the result of
prematurity.
premature Born before the 37th week of pregnancy.
infant mortality The death of a child less than one year of age.
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) The sudden death of an apparently healthy
infant during sleep.
labor The act or process of giving birth to a child, expelling it with the placenta from
the mother’s body by means of uterine contractions.
contraction Shortening of the muscles in the uterine wall, which causes effacement
and dilation of the cervix and assists in expelling the fetus.
transition The last part of the first stage of labor, during which the cervix becomes
fully dilated; characterized by intense and frequent contractions.
Apgar score A formalized system for assessing a newborn’s need for medical
assistance.
cesarean section A surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus,
performed to extract a fetus.
postpartum period The period of about three months after delivering a baby.
lactation The production of milk.
colostrum A yellowish fluid secreted by the mammary glands around the time of
childbirth until milk comes in, about the third day.
postpartum depression An emotional low that may be experienced by the mother
after childbirth.