Ch 10 Definitions: Sexual Behavior Flashcards
X chromosome
one of the two types of chromosomes;
XX will usually develop into females
Y chromosome
one of two types of sex chromosomes;
XY will usually develop into males
karyotype
a profile of chromosome number and appearance
in the nucleus of a cell
as seen under a light microscope
Turner Syndrome
a condition caused by XO genotype,
characterized by frequent abnormalities of the ovaries and infertility
Klinefelter syndrome
a condition in males caused by XXY genotype,
characterized by frequent problems with fertility, secondary sex characteristics, and verbal skills
gonads
the internal organs, ovaries in females and testes in males,
that produce reproductive cells (eggs and sperm) and secrete sex hormones
external genitalia
the external sexual organs,
including the penis and scrotum in males
and the labia, clitoris, and lower third of vagina in females
intersex
a condition in which elements of both male and female development occur in the same fetus
ovaries
female gonads;
the source of ova and sex hormones
testes
male gonads;
source of sperm and sex hormones
sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY)
a gene located on the short arm of the Y chromosome that encodes for testis-determining factor
testis-determining factor
a protein encoded by the SRY gene on the Y chromosome that turns the primordial gonads into testes
Müllerian system
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
Wolffian system
the internal system that develops into seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and prostate gland in males
testosterone
an androgen produced primarily in the testes
anti-Müllerian hormone
a hormone secreted by fetal testes that causes the degeneration of the Müllerian system
androgen
a steroid hormone that develops and maintains typically masculine characteristics
androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)
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
gender identity
the sense of being male or female, independent of genetic sex or physical appearance
5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone
an androgen secreted by the testes that masculinizes the external genitalia
congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
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
secondary sex characteristics
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
estrogen
a steroid hormone that develops and maintains typical female characteristics
estradiol
an estrogen hormone synthesized primarily in the ovaries
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
a hormone released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the anterior pituitary gland
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
a hormone released by the anterior pituitary that stimulates the development of
eggs in the ovaries
and sperm in the testes
luteinizing hormone (LH)
a hormone released by the anterior pituitary that signals
the male testes to produce testosterone
and that regulates the menstrual cycle in females
5-alpha-reductase deficiency
a rare condition in which a child is born with ambiguous genitalia but develops male secondary sex characteristics at puberty
organization
the permanent effects of sex hormones on body structures
activation
reversible effects of sex hormones on body structures and functions
Sexually dimorphic
structurally different in males and females
otoacoustic emissions
sounds emitted by the cochlea of the inner ear that show sex differences
sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA)
a nucleus in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus that is larger in male rats than in female rats
interstitial nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus
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
spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB)
motor neurons in the spinal cord that innervate the male rat’s bulbocavernosus muscles in the penis
transsexuality
having a gender identity that is inconsistent with biological sex
sexual orientation
a stable pattern of attraction to members of a particular sex
premenstrual syndrome
a condition in which some women experience physical and psychological symptoms immediately prior to the onset of menstruation
premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
a condition in which premenstrual mood changes are usually severe
postpartum depression
a condition in which mothers who have recently given birth experience feelings of depression due to their rapidly changing hormonal environment
estrus
a regularly occurring period of sexual desire and fertility in some mammals
major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene
a gene that encodes our immune system’s ability to recognize intruders;
might account for preferences for body odors
oxytocin
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
monogamy
the custom of having one mate at a time or for life
erectile dysfunction
the inability to achieve and maintain an erection long enough for satisfactory sexual activity
