Ch 12 Sex Flashcards
Sexual attraction
The first step in the mating behavior of many animals, in which animals emit stimuli that attract members of the opposite sex. Ex pheromones, behavioral
Appetitive behavior
The second stage of mating behavior; helps establish or maintain sexual interaction. Has a specific plan. Ex. Lordosis, female receptivity, flirting(kinda)
Proceptive
Referring to a state in which an animal advertises its readiness to mate through species-typical behaviors, such as ear wiggling in the female rat. Part of sexual attraction.
Copulation
Aka coitus. Sex act. Includes intromission, ejaculation, and refractory period
Intromission
Insertion of erect penis into vagina during copulation
Refractory period
A period following compilation during which an individual cannot recommence copulation
Coolidge effect
The propensity of an animal that has appeared sexually satiated with a present partner to resume sexual activity when provided with a novel partner. Speed up refractory period
Sexually receptive
Referring to the state in which an individual (typically the female) is willing to copulate.
Estrus
The period during which female animals are sexually receptive
Postcopulatory lock
The final stage of mating behavior. Species-specific postcopulatory behaviors include grooming genitals (in rat). Also parenting
Postcopulatory lock
Male’s penis swells after ejaculation so that male and female are forced to remain joined for 5-15 mins; occurs in dogs and some rodents, not in humans. Ensures paternity.
Parental behavior
Behavior of adult animals with goal of enhancing well-being of their own offspring often at cost to parents
Lordosis
A female receptive posture in quadrupeds in which the hindquarters are raised and tail turned to side, facilitating intromission by male. In response to male mounting
Activational effect
A temp change in behavior resulting from administration of a hormone to an adult animal. Hormones exhibit
Testosterone
Required for sexual behavior in males, but a lot doesn’t make a difference in sex drive. In humans, adrenal gland also makes it
Estrogen
Mediates proceptive behaviors. High levels at ovulation
Progesterone
Mediates receptive behaviors. High levels at ovulation.
Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)
In females, produces lordosis bc modulated by E and P. Stimulate it, get proceptive behaviors.
Medial preoptic area (mPOA)
Copulatory behavior in males. Motivation DA pathway (VTA–> NA)
Vomeronasal organ (VNO)
Close to olfactory epithelium. Specialized receptor cells detect pheromones and send electrical signals to he accessory olfactory bulb in brain
Medial amygdala
A portion of the amygdala that receives olfactory and pheromonal info
Make sexual response pattern
Only one pattern. Sexual excitement, plateau, orgasm, refractory phase.
Female pattern of sexual response
3 patterns. Sexual excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution. Most don’t have refractory phase.
Sexual differentiation
The process by which individuals develop either malelike or femalelike bodies and behavior
Sex determination
The process by which the decision is made for a fetus to develop as male or female.
Indifferent gonads
The undifferentiated gonads of the early mammalian fetus which will eventually develop into either testes or ovaries
SRY gene
A gene on Y chrom, that directs developing gonads to become testes.
If female or missing then gonads develop as ovaries
Wolffian duct
A duct system in the embryo that will develop into male structures (epididymis, vans deferens, and seminal vesicles) if testes (producing testosterone) are present.
Müllerian duct
A duct system in the embryo that will develop into female reproductive structures (fallopian tubes, uterus, upper vag), if testes aren’t present
Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH)
From (müllerian inhibiting substance) Protein hormone secreted by fetal testis that inhibits Müllerian duct dev. Promotes wolffian duct dev
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
Reduced by 5α-reductase from testosterone. Potent androgen that is responsible for masculinization of external genitalia in mammalian sexual differentiation. If have, penis. If not, clit. Bad timing, intersex.
5α-reductase
Enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT
Turner’s syndrome
X0. Female but sterile, delayed phys dev and mental impairment in most cases. No other X to compensate
Congenital Andrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
XX. Adrenal gland produces excess T in early dev instead of corticosteroids. Creates intersex appearance. Might maintain wolffian ducts.
Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)
XY. No functional androgen receptor. Wolffian system degenerates. Still have internal testes. Develop vagina but missing menstrual cycle.
Guevedoces
Nickname for individuals who are raised as girls but at puberty have T change appearance and begin behaving as boys. Lack 5α-reductase to convert T to DHT in early prenatal dev
Organizational effect
A permanent alteration of the n.s. and thus permanent change in behavior resulting from the action of a steroid hormone on an animal early in its development.
Sensitive period
The period during dev in which an organism can be permanently altered by a particular experience or treatment.
Masculinization of the brain
T enters brain, converted to estradiol by aromatase, binds to DNA, alters expression.
α-fetoprotein
Binds to sex steroids in blood and prevents them from entering brain. Inactivated by stress during pregnant
Sexual dimorphism
The condition in which males and females show pronounced sex differences in appearance (ex songs regions in birds in POA of hypothalamus- sexually dimorphic nucleus)
Cloacal exstrophy
XY individual born without penis but with testes
Sexual orientation
Stress hormones during pregnancy, more older brothers (mother builds up rxn to T).
Androgen markers in lesbians 2d 4d ratio changes
