Ch 10 Definitions: Sexual Behavior

Question 1

X chromosome

Answer 1

one of the two types of chromosomes;

XX will usually develop into females

Question 2

Y chromosome

Answer 2

one of two types of sex chromosomes;

XY will usually develop into males

Question 3

karyotype

Answer 3

a profile of chromosome number and appearance
in the nucleus of a cell
as seen under a light microscope

Question 4

Turner Syndrome

Answer 4

a condition caused by XO genotype,

characterized by frequent abnormalities of the ovaries and infertility

Question 5

Klinefelter syndrome

Answer 5

a condition in males caused by XXY genotype,

characterized by frequent problems with fertility, secondary sex characteristics, and verbal skills

Question 6

gonads

Answer 6

the internal organs, ovaries in females and testes in males,
that produce reproductive cells (eggs and sperm) and secrete sex hormones

Question 7

external genitalia

Answer 7

the external sexual organs,
including the penis and scrotum in males
and the labia, clitoris, and lower third of vagina in females

Question 8

intersex

Answer 8

a condition in which elements of both male and female development occur in the same fetus

Question 9

ovaries

Answer 9

female gonads;

the source of ova and sex hormones

Question 10

testes

Answer 10

male gonads;

source of sperm and sex hormones

Question 11

sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY)

Answer 11

a gene located on the short arm of the Y chromosome that encodes for testis-determining factor

Question 12

testis-determining factor

Answer 12

a protein encoded by the SRY gene on the Y chromosome that turns the primordial gonads into testes

Question 13

Müllerian system

Answer 13

the internal system that develops into a uterus, fallopian tubes, and upper 2/3 of the vagina in the absence of the anti-Müllerian hormone

Question 14

Wolffian system

Answer 14

the internal system that develops into seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and prostate gland in males

Question 15

testosterone

Answer 15

an androgen produced primarily in the testes

Question 16

anti-Müllerian hormone

Answer 16

a hormone secreted by fetal testes that causes the degeneration of the Müllerian system

Question 17

androgen

Answer 17

a steroid hormone that develops and maintains typically masculine characteristics

Question 18

androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

Answer 18

a condition in which a genetic male fetus lacks functional androgen receptors, which leads to the development of female external genitalia and typically female gender identity and sexual behavior

Question 19

gender identity

Answer 19

the sense of being male or female, independent of genetic sex or physical appearance

Question 20

5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone

Answer 20

an androgen secreted by the testes that masculinizes the external genitalia

Question 21

congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Answer 21

a condition in which a fetus is exposed to higher-than-normal androgens, resulting in masculinization of external genitalia and some cognitive behaviors in affected females

Question 22

secondary sex characteristics

Answer 22

characteristics related to sex that appear at puberty, including
deepening of the voice and facial hair growth in males
and widening hips and breast development in females

Question 23

estrogen

Answer 23

a steroid hormone that develops and maintains typical female characteristics

Question 24

estradiol

Answer 24

an estrogen hormone synthesized primarily in the ovaries

Question 25

gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Answer 25

a hormone released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the anterior pituitary gland

Question 26

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Answer 26

a hormone released by the anterior pituitary that stimulates the development of eggs in the ovaries and sperm in the testes

Question 27

luteinizing hormone (LH)

Answer 27

a hormone released by the anterior pituitary that signals the male testes to produce testosterone and that regulates the menstrual cycle in females

Question 28

5-alpha-reductase deficiency

Answer 28

a rare condition in which a child is born with ambiguous genitalia but develops male secondary sex characteristics at puberty

Question 29

organization

Answer 29

the permanent effects of sex hormones on body structures

Question 30

activation

Answer 30

reversible effects of sex hormones on body structures and functions

Question 31

Sexually dimorphic

Answer 31

structurally different in males and females

Question 32

otoacoustic emissions

Answer 32

sounds emitted by the cochlea of the inner ear that show sex differences

Question 33

sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA)

Answer 33

a nucleus in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus that is larger in male rats than in female rats

Question 34

interstitial nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus

Answer 34

a collection of four small nuclei in the anterior hypothalamus, two of which (INAH-2 and INAH-3) appear to be sexually dimorphic the size of INAH-3 might be associated with male sexual orientation

Question 35

spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB)

Answer 35

motor neurons in the spinal cord that innervate the male rat’s bulbocavernosus muscles in the penis

Question 36

transsexuality

Answer 36

having a gender identity that is inconsistent with biological sex

Question 37

sexual orientation

Answer 37

a stable pattern of attraction to members of a particular sex

Question 38

premenstrual syndrome

Answer 38

a condition in which some women experience physical and psychological symptoms immediately prior to the onset of menstruation

Question 39

premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Answer 39

a condition in which premenstrual mood changes are usually severe

Question 40

postpartum depression

Answer 40

a condition in which mothers who have recently given birth experience feelings of depression due to their rapidly changing hormonal environment

Question 41

estrus

Answer 41

a regularly occurring period of sexual desire and fertility in some mammals

Question 42

major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene

Answer 42

a gene that encodes our immune system’s ability to recognize intruders; might account for preferences for body odors

Question 43

oxytocin

Answer 43

a hormone, released by the posterior pituitary gland, that stimulates uterine contractions, releases milk, and participates in social bonding, including romantic love and parenting behavior

Question 44

monogamy

Answer 44

the custom of having one mate at a time or for life

Question 45

erectile dysfunction

Answer 45

the inability to achieve and maintain an erection long enough for satisfactory sexual activity