Sexual Anatomy free essay sample

Sexual Anatomy On the female body there are many external sex organs. One of the organs is the vulva. Vulva comes from a Latin term that means â€Å"wrapper† or â€Å"covering†. There are six different parts to the vulva. The different parts are: the Mons Veneris; Labia Majora; Labia Minora; the Clitoris and the vaginal opening. The mons veneris consists of fatty tissue that covers the joint of the pubic bones in front of the body. It is below the abdomen and above the clitoris. The mons veneris cushions a woman’s body during sexual intercourse. It can protect her and her partner from the pressure against the pubic bone that they can feel that comes from thrusting. The Labia Majora are large folds of skin that run downward from the mons veneris along the sides of the vulva. When they are close together, they protect the labia minora and the urethral and vaginal openings. They are supplied with many nerve endings that can respond to stimulation and product sexual pleasure. It also protects the inner female genitals. The Labia Minora are two hairless, light colored membranes, located between the major lips. They surround the urethral and vaginal openings. The outer surfaces of labia minora merge with the major lips. The labia minora is rich in blood vessels and nerve endings, making them highly sensitive to sexual stimulation. They can darken and swell when they are stimulated. The clitoris is the only sex organ who’s only known purpose is to experience pleasure. The clitoral shaft consists of erectile tissue that contains two spongy masses called corpora cavernous that will fill with blood and become erect in response to sexual stimulation. It is less apparent than the erection of the male’s penis. It has an indirect role in reproduction in that it is the female sex organ most sensitive to sexual sensation and thus a motivator of sexual activity. The vestibule refers to the areas within the labia minora that have the openings to the vagina and the urethra. It has a number of nerve endings and is very sensitive to tactile or other sexual stimulation. The urethral opening is where urine passes through after passing through the females. It is connected by a short tube to the bladder. You do not see an entire vagina; instead you see the vaginal opening. Its shape resembles that of the hymen. The hymen is a fold of tissue across the vaginal opening that is usually present at birth. The presence of a hymen is a proof of virginity and the absence of a hymen is evidence of sexual intercourse. The perineum is where the skin and underlying tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus. There are many nerve endings because stimulation of the area may heighten sexual arousal. The clitoral crura are wing-shaped, leg like structure that attaches the clitoris to the pubic bone beneath it. It contains corpora cavernous. The vestibular bulbs are on the clitoris at the top and go down along the sides of the vaginal opening. During sexual arousal blood congests the bulbs making the vagina longer and the vulva to swell. Both partners can be affected by this. Bartholin’s glands lie just inside the minor lips on each side of the vaginal opening. They create a couple of drops of lubrication right before orgasm. There are a few internal sex organs to a female body. The vagina extends back and upward from the vaginal opening. It is about three to five inches long when it is at rest. During sexual intercourse, the penis is contained within the vagina. During sexual arousal the vagina expands in length and width. The cervix is the lower end of the uterus. Its walls are much like the walls of a vagina. The cervix produces secretions that help keep the chemicals in the vagina in balance. Sperm passes through the vagina to the uterus through the cervical canal. The uterus, better known as the womb is the organ in which a fertilized egg implants and develops until birth. The fallopian tubes are about four inches in length and extend from the upper end of the uterus toward the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, they are in the shape of almonds and can be about 1 ? inches long. They are one either side of the uterus. They produce egg cells and the female sex hormones known as estrogen and progesterone. The penis is one of the external sex organs on the male. It is used in sexual intercourse. The penis is also a place urine comes from. Semen and urine pass out of the penis through the urethral meatus, meaning passage. The glans of the penis is extremely sensitive to sexual stimulation. The male internal sex organs include testes. The organs that manufacture sperm and testosterone. These tubes and ducts conduct sperm through the male reproductive systems. The testes are the male gonads. They serve two purposes. They secrete sex hormones and produce mature germ cells. Germ cells are also known as sperm and the sex hormones are androgens. Testosterone is the most important androgens. The vas deferens is a thin cylindrical tube about 16 inches long that serves as a conduit for mature sperm. Seminal vesicles are small glands which are two inches long. They open into ejaculatory ducts, where the fluids they secrete combine with sperm. The alkalinity in the prostate gland neutralizes some of the acidity of the vaginal tract. It prolongs the life span of sperm as it enters the females system. Cowper’s gland lies below the prostate and empty secretions into the urethra. During sexual arousal they secrete a drop or so of clear, slippery fluid that appears at the tip of the penis.