Genital Anatomy

Question 1

What is an erogenous zone? give a few examples.

Answer 1

Part of the body that provides a sexually pleasant sensation (sexual pleasure) whenever it is physically stimulated through touch

Examples: neck, breast, inside thighs, feet

Question 2

What are the ingredients required for a body part to be considered erogenous?

Answer 2

Biology:
- tactile nerves (inervation)
- blood flow (vascularization)
Psychological:
- experience + positive association reinforcement = preference
Social/cultural:
- culture tells us which body part ought to be sexualized - where we should be getting our sexual stimulation from
Context:
- sexual stimulation is acquired from an erogenous zone depending on context
- ex: breasts: in the bed (YES) or at the doctor’s office getting a mammogram (NO)

Question 3

Where is a location that has the potential to be an erogenous zone? why?

Answer 3

The anus (perineum)
- richly innervated and vascularized

Question 4

What is the part that develops into either male or female genitals? with the presence of which hormone? what parts of the genitals does it turn into?

Answer 4

Labioscrotal Swelling - embryotic tissue that develops differently depending on the presence of sex hormones (testosterone)

Male: the scar/seam in the middle of the scrotum is the labioscrotal fusing together
Female: stays open and creates the outer lips of the vulva

Question 5

Homologous Organs + example

Answer 5

organs in the male and female that develop from the same embryonic tissue
ex: the glands of the clitoris and the glands of the penis

Question 6

Analogous Organs + example

Answer 6

organs in the male and female that have similar functions
ex: The penis has a urethra going through it so it has the elimination of urine and it has ejaculation… There is no urethra going through the clitoris

• foreskin + preface of the clitoris

Question 7

mons pubis

Answer 7

• top of the vulva
• very innervates and vascularized - so potential for sexual pleasure
• makes its way down the outer lips and covered with pubic hair

Question 8

outer lips

Answer 8

• Very vascularized and lots of tactile nerves - potential for sexual stimulation

Question 9

Inner lips

Answer 9

• no pubic hair
• very innervated
• very vascularized - gets engorged with blood and changes in colour during sexual response

Question 10

What is the vestibule?

Answer 10

It is what is on the inside of the inner lips:
-opening of the urethra
-opening of the vagina
- the hymen

Lots of tactile nerves and richly vascularized

Question 11

Clitoris

Answer 11

• Can be seen from the outside… but just the tip of it
• covered by a preface similar to foreskin
• it is partially or entirely covered… if you lift the preface you can just see the tip of the clitoris

Most of it is an internal structure - wishbone
- legs of the clitoris: erectile tissues similar to those is a penis - cavernous bodies
- these become engorged with sexual stimulation

Under the legs, there are the bulbs of the clitoris:
- vestibular bulbs: lie right under the legs - veins that are squished and become engorged
- these may bulge and look blue

Question 12

hymen

Answer 12

At the entrance of the vagina opening
- a flexible + thin membrane that has stretch
- NOT indication of a person’s sex history

Some cultures place a huge emphasis on the hymen being in tact and the ability of a person to be a wife is an indication of it being intact

Question 13

Idea that accompanies bleeding and pain:

Answer 13

Pain:
- Pelvic floor muscle hugs the entrance of the vagina and in about 2-3cm
- these muscles contract so when there is fear the muscle tenses up
- the feeling of being tight/loose or pain of friction is the muscle, not the hymen
*Kegal exercises can tighten/tone the muscle

Bleeding:
The hyman has capillaries going through it, so when it is stretched and cracks there will be capillaries inside:
- Big capillary = 1-2 drops
- Small capillary: hardly any bleeding
*THERE SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN THAT

Question 14

Vagina

Answer 14

2cm of tight narrow feeling and then it becomes wide open

Can be divided into 3rds:
- The outter third (closest to the opening): has tactile nerved
- The 2 inner thirds: doesn’t have tactile nerves (which it why we don’t feel tampons when placed correctly)

It gets longer and wider with sexual stimulation

It is an acidic structure - acid kills sperm!

Question 15

Cervix

Answer 15

At the end of the vagina:
- gland responsible for discharge
- can be sensitive when getting a pap, biopsy, surgery

Question 16

Anal penetration

Answer 16

Anus: sphincter muscle (always closed)
- triggered by a brain signal that tells it to dilate when we have to poop

Penetrating from the outside is difficult:
- must be very relaxed
- gradual - not immediate with a big object
- anus and rectum is not a straight passageway
- there is no natural lubrication - can cause friction burns and tears in the mucosa
- Microtears open the blood barrier which can
make it easier to catch HIV
- there is fecal matter inside which can cause urethritis if no condom is used

Question 17

frenulum, corona, scrotum

Answer 17

frenulum: attached the foreskin to the penis
corona: rigged at the base of the gland that is richly innervated
scrotum: richly innervated and vascularized - will engorged with blood during sexual stimulation

Question 18

Sperm + Ejaculate

Answer 18

spermatozoa: fabricated in the testicle and stored in the epididymis
- can store for us to 6 weeks

It goes from the epididymis up the vas deferens and gets pushed and poured into the ejaculatory duct (center of the prostate)

sperm is <1% of the volume ejaculated
60-70% is seminal vesicles fluid (alkaline so makes sure sperm can survive)
- provides fructose which gives motility to the sperm
30-40% is from the prostate- like a conditioner colour
- responsible for smell and flavor

Question 19

Blue balls

Answer 19

• Doesn’t mean there is too much sperm
• die to vasocongestion - too long in arousal and the blood has congested which is uncomfortable
• must ejaculate or stop touching themselves

Question 20

The internal structure of the penis

Answer 20

2 cavernous bodies: sinuses that fill with blood
1 spongey body: has the urethra

Question 21

Erection

Answer 21

When there is stimulation the blood is sent to the penis and the cavernous bodies + spongey fill up with blood which get bigger and bigger

The cavities eventually hit a wall called the albuginea which goes around the penis - and crush a dorsal vein at the top (the main door for blood to go back) so the blood gets trapped inside the sinuses

It is a vascular phenomenon!

Question 22

Circumcision

Answer 22

• Surgical cutting away or removal of the foreskin
• Done for cultural and religious reasons

They say there is no difference in the sensitivity of the penus for sexual pleasure

STI transmission: There is a benefit of circumcision to prevent transmission… but the research hasn’t been super valid or reliable