Sexual Health Terms

Question 1

Hormones

Answer 1

a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (as blood) that stimulates other body cells to do something.

Question 2

Thyroid gland

Answer 2

a large endocrine gland at the base of the neck of most vertebrates that produces iodine-containing hormones (as thyroxine) that affect growth, development, and metabolism – called also thyroid gland

Question 3

Parathyroid gland

Answer 3

produces a hormone that controls the amount of calcium and phosphorus in blood

Question 4

Hypothalamus

Answer 4

produces hormones which pass to the front part of the pituitary gland, and is important in regulating the activities of the autonomic nervous system

Question 5

Pineal gland

Answer 5

produces melatonin especially in response to darkness – called also pineal body

Question 6

Melatonin

Answer 6

hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland especially in response to darkness and has been linked to the regulation of bodily functions or activities (as sleep) that occur in approximately 24 hour cycles

Question 7

Pituitary gland

Answer 7

a small oval endocrine organ located at the base of the brain that produces various hormones that regulate especially growth and reproduction

Question 8

Adrenal gland

Answer 8

either of a pair of endocrine glands that are located near the kidney and produce the hormone epinephrine

Question 9

Epinephrine

Answer 9

a hormone of the adrenal gland acting especially on smooth muscle, causing narrowing of blood vessels, and raising blood pressure – called also adrenaline

Question 10

Pancreas

Answer 10

a large gland of vertebrates that lies near the stomach and produces digestive enzymes and insulin

Question 11

Insulin

Answer 11

a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and is necessary for the normal use of glucose by the body

Question 12

Seminal vesicle

Answer 12

pair of glandular pouches that lie one on either side of the male reproductive tract and in the human male secrete a sugar- and protein-containing fluid into the ejaculatory duct

Question 13

Prostate gland

Answer 13

an organ found in men and male animals that produces the liquid in which sperm is carried. This gland increases in size and can sometime develop cancer. Normal screening reduces cancer risks.

Question 14

Cowper’s gland

Answer 14

either of two small glands lying on either side of the male urethra below the prostate gland and discharging a secretion into the semen that neutralizes conditions inside urethra.

Question 15

Vas deferens

Answer 15

a sperm-carrying duct in the male beginning at the epididymis and eventually joins the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct

Question 16

Testis

Answer 16

male reproductive glands that produces sperm and secretes testosterone and is contained in the scrotum.

Question 17

Epididymis

Answer 17

a system of ducts leading from the testis that holds sperm during maturation before uniting into the vas deferens

Question 18

Testicular cancer

Answer 18

Cancer of the testicles usually occurring between ages 15-35

Question 19

Ovaries

Answer 19

usually two organs in women and female animals that produce eggs and female hormones

Question 20

Ovum

Answer 20

a female egg cell

Question 21

Uterus

Answer 21

the organ in women in which babies develop before birth

Question 22

Monogamy

Answer 22

one mutually faithful sexual partner

Question 23

Vertical transmission (HIV)

Answer 23

spreading disease from mother to baby

Question 24

Ovulation

Answer 24

one egg leaving a woman’s ovary once a month

Question 25

Fallopian tubes

Answer 25

either of the pair of tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus

Question 26

Endometrium

Answer 26

the mucous membrane lining the uterus

Question 27

Menstruation

Answer 27

a discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that occurs when a women’s egg is not fertilized. This occurs typically every 25-28 days.

Question 28

Cervix

Answer 28

the narrow end at the opening of a woman’s uterus

Question 29

Toxic shock syndrome

Answer 29

a serious illness that is caused by bacteria and occurs especially in women who use tampons

Question 30

Fertilization

Answer 30

Union of egg and sperm

Question 31

Embryo

Answer 31

the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception

Question 32

Amniotic sac

Answer 32

a membrane forming a fluid-filled cavity (the amniotic sac) that encloses the embryo.

Question 33

Umbilical cord

Answer 33

a long, narrow tube that connects an unborn baby to the placenta of its mother

Question 34

Prenatal care

Answer 34

relating to pregnant women and their unborn babies

Question 35

Amniocentesis

Answer 35

a test of amniotic fluid to check the health of the baby before he/she is born

Question 36

Mammogram

Answer 36

a photograph of a woman’s breasts made by X-rays used to check for abnormally growing lumps

Question 37

Pandemic vs Epidemic

Answer 37

Pandemic is a world wide spread of a disease and epidemic is a regional outbreak of disease (upper Midwest influenza outbreak

Question 38

Sterility

Answer 38

inability to conceive (males and females both)

Question 39

Progestin

Answer 39

synthetic progesterone that stops ovulation and increases cervical mucus

Question 40

Progesterone

Answer 40

female sex hormone that prepares the endometrium for implantation of the newly fertilized egg

Question 41

Estrogen

Answer 41

hormone that is responsible for the development of female secondary sex characteristics and promote the growth and maintenance of the female reproductive system

Question 42

Oxytocin

Answer 42

stimulates especially the contraction of uterine muscle and the secretion of milk

Question 43

Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Answer 43

a hormone that stimulates the growth of the ovum-containing follicles in the ovary and that activates sperm-forming cell

Question 44

Human Chorionic Gonadotropic hormone

Answer 44

is a hormone produced by the cells that surround the growing human

Question 45

Endocrine glands

Answer 45

any of various glands that have no duct and pour their secretions directly into the lymph or blood circulating through them – called also ductless gland

Question 46

embryo

Answer 46

these cells will eventually go on to form the placenta.