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Chapter 3 Terms & Definitions
Human Sexuality: From Cells to Society, 1st Edition
77
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
02/10/2014

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Term
Penis
Definition

 From the Latin word for 

“tail,” the penis is the external 

male genitalia.

Term
Scrotum
Definition

 The 

pouch of skin that holds the 

testicles.

Term
Glans
Definition

 From the Latin word 

for “acorn,” the glans is the 

enlarged head of the  

penis.

Term
Corona
Definition

 The raised edge of the 

penis that separates the glans 

from the shaft.

Term
Meatus
Definition

 The 

opening at the tip of the glans.

Term
Frenulum
Definition

 The thin strip of flesh 

on the underside of the penis 

that connects the shaft to the 

glans.

Term
Foreskin or Prepuce
Definition

 The fold of skin that 

covers the head of the penis in 

uncircumcised males.

Term
Smegma
Definition

 A thick and malodorous

substance that can 

accumulate under the foreskin 

in uncircumcised men.

Term
Circumcision
Definition

 The surgical 

removal of the foreskin of the 

penis.

Term
Corpora Cavernosa
Definition

 Two 

cylinders of erectile tissue that 

run along the upper part of the 

penis.

Term
Corpus Spongiosum
Definition

 Erectile 

tissue that runs along the underside

of the penis and encloses 

the urethra.

Term
Urethra
Definition

 Tubular structure that serves as a 

passageway for both urine and 

semen.

Term
Crura
Definition

 The inner branches of 

the penile shaft.

Term
Kegel Exercises
Definition

Exercises that involve clenching 

and unclenching of the muscles 

of the pelvic foor.

Term
Perineum
Definition

The sensitive skin between the 

genitals and the anus.

Term
Pubic Hair
Definition

 The 

hair, often somewhat coarse and 

stif, that grows in the pubic 

region just above the external 

genitals.

Term
Testes
Definition

 The male 

gonad that produces sperm and 

testosterone.

Term
Gonad
Definition

 The reproductive organ 

that produces gametes.

Term
Gamete
Definition

 The male or female 

reproductive cell—the sperm or 

egg.

Term
Spermatic Cord
Definition

 The cord-like 

structure containing blood 

vessels, nerves, and the vas 

deferens that runs from the 

abdomen down to each testicle.

Term
Cryptorchidism
Definition
Undescended testes.
Term
Seminiferous Tubules
Definition

Long, 

convoluted tubes in the testes 

where sperm is produced.

Term
Sertoli Cells
Definition

Supportive cells that secrete 

hormones, nurture developing 

sperm, and form the blood– 

testes barrier.

Term
Interstitial Cells of Leydig
Definition

 Cells that synthesize 

and secrete testosterone and 

other androgens. “Interstitial” is 

a medical term that means “to 

stand between”; interstitial cells 

of Leydig are found between the 

seminiferous tubules of the 

testes.

Term
Epididymis
Definition

The portion of the ejaculatory 

pathway where sperm mature 

and learn to swim.

Term
Vas Deferens
Definition

 The 

tube that carries sperm from 

each epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.

Term
Ampulla
Definition

 The sac-like swelling 

at the end of each vas deferens.

Term
Vasectomy
Definition

 The cutting of the 

vas deferentia to prevent sperm 

from entering the ejaculate.

Term
Ejaculate
Definition

 When used as a noun, 

it is another word for semen.

Term
Ejacularoty Duct
Definition

 The part of 

the ejaculatory pathway that 

passes through the prostate and 

connects the vas deferens and 

the urethra.

Term
Seminal Fluid
Definition

 The white milky 

substance produced by the 

seminal vesicles, prostate gland, 

and Cowper’s gland that 

provides nutrition and protec-

tion for the sperm.

Term
Semen
Definition

 The fuid 

released during ejaculation, 

which is made up of sperm and 

seminal fuid.

Term
Seminal Vesicles
Definition

 Two glands 

that produce a thick, alkaline 

secretion that makes up most  

of semen.

Term
Prostate Gland
Definition

 A gland that 

surrounds the urethra, which 

produces a fuid that is added to 

semen.

Term
Cowper's Glands
Definition

 Also called 

the bulbourethral glands, they 

add a small amount of fuid to 

the volume of semen.

Term
Hormone
Definition

 A chemical substance 

that is produced in one organ 

and carried through the 

bloodstream to afect another 

part of the body.

Term
Endocrine System
Definition

 A glandular 

system that produces hormones.

Term
Positive Feedback
Definition

 A control 

mechanism by which a change 

sets off a response that 

increases the initial change.

Term
Negative Feedback
Definition

 A control 

mechanism by which a change 

sets off a response that 

counteracts the initial change.

Term

Gonadotropin-releasing 

Hormone (GnRH)

Definition

 Hypothalamic 

hormone that stimulates the 

pituitary gland to release 

luteinizing hormone (LH) and 

follicle-stimulating hormone 

(FSH).

Term
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Definition

 A 

pituitary hormone that causes 

the production and release of 

testosterone in males.

Term
Hypothalamus
Definition

A part of the brain 

involved in hormone release, 

biological rhythms, emotions, and 

sex drive.

Term
Pituitary Gland
Definition

Also called the 

“master gland,” the pituitary gland 

produces hormones that control 

other glands and many bodily 

functions including growth, 

metabolism, and reproduction.

Term
Homeostasis
Definition

Maintenance of the 

body’s stable internal environment.

Term
Testosterone
Definition

Produced by the 

testes and in small amounts by the 

ovaries, this hormone stimulates 

development of male sexual 

characteristics, bone and muscle 

growth, and libido.

Term
Androgens
Definition

A family of hormones 

that promote and maintain male 

physical characteristics.

Term

Secondary Sexual Characteristics 

Definition

Traits (other than those that 

are part of the reproductive system) 

that distinguish males and females.

Term
Adrenal Glands
Definition

A pair of glands 

that sit atop the kidneys and 

produce androgens, as well as 

hormones that control metabo-

lism, fuid balance, and blood 

pressure.

Term
Dihydrotestosterone (dHT)
Definition

potent male hormone involved in 

prenatal development of the penis 

and scrotum.

Term
Estradiol
Definition

One of the “female” 

hormones responsible for female 

sex characteristics, as well as 

reproductive, bone, and brain 

development in both sexes.

Term
Andropause
Definition

Also called 

androgen defciency in aging 

males (ADAM), andropause is a 

gradual decline in a man’s 

energy and sex drive caused by 

diminished levels of androgens 

that occur with aging.

Term
Anabolic
Definition

The metabolic 

process of building tissue.

Term
Androgenic
Definition

Related to the 

development or maintenance of 

masculine characteristics.

Term
Steroid
Definition

A type of lipid molecule 

with a multiple-ring structure.

Term
Sperm
Definition
The male gamete.
Term
Acrosome
Definition

The enzyme-containing

cap on the head of 

the sperm.

Term
Chromosome
Definition

A component in 

the nucleus of the cell that 

contains genes.

Term
Gene
Definition

A sequence of DNA that 

gives information for making 

proteins.

Term
Autosome
Definition

One of 22 pairs of 

non-sex chromosomes.

Term
Sex Chromosome
Definition

The X and Y 

chromosomes.

Term
Spermatogenesis
Definition

The production of 

sperm.

Term

Spermatogonia

Definition

A stem cell that 

will become a sperm.

Term

Primary Spermatocyte 

 

Definition

An 

immature male germ cell 

containing 46 chromosomes.

Term
Secondary Spermatocyte
Definition

male germ cell that has gone 

through its frst meiotic division.

Term
Meiosis
Definition

The 

process of cell division in the 

egg and sperm.

Term
Spermatid
Definition

An 

immature sperm cell with 23 

chromosomes.

Term

Spermatozoa

Definition
A mature sperm cell.
Term
Androgen-binding Protein
Definition

substance, produced by Sertoli 

cells, that binds testosterone.

Term

Hypospadias

Definition

A congenital condition in 

which the urethra opens on the 

underside of the penis rather 

than at the end.

Term
Chordee
Definition

A downward curva-

ture of the penis, often 

associated with hypospadias.

Term

Peyronie’s Disease 

Definition

Curvature of the penis 

caused by the growth of fbrous 

scar tissue.

Term
Phimosis
Definition

tight, nonretractable foreskin.

Term
Priapism
Definition

A prolonged and often painful 

erection.

Term
Varicocele
Definition

A dilated vein in the spermatic 

cord.

Term

Prostatitis

Definition

An infammation of the 

prostate gland, usually caused 

by bacteria.

Term

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia 

(BPH) 

Definition

An enlargement of the 

prostate gland, not related to 

infection or cancer.

Term

Prostate Specifc Antigen 

(PSA) 

Definition

A protein produced by 

the prostate; PSA levels are 

elevated with prostate cancer 

and BPH.

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