| sexuality | A dimension of personality shaped by biological, psychosocial, and cultural forces and concerning all aspects of sexual behavior.
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| gonads | The primary reproductive organs that produce germ cells and sex hormones; the ovaries and testes.
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| germ cells | Sperm and ova (eggs).
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| vulva | The external female genitals, or sex organs.
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| clitoris | The highly sensitive female genital structure.
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| vagina | The passage leading from the female genitals to the internal reproductive organs; the birth canal.
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| cervix | The end of the uterus opening toward the vagina.
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| uterus | The hollow, thick-walled, muscular organ in which the fertilized egg develops; the womb.
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| ovary | One of two female reproductive glands that produce ova (eggs) and sex hormones; ovaries are the female gonads.
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| penis | The male genital structure consisting of spongy tissue that becomes engorged with blood during sexual excitement.
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| scrotum | The loose sac of skin and muscle fibers that contains the testes.
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| testis | One of two male gonads, the site of sperm production; plural, testes. Also called testicle
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| glans | The rounded head of the penis or the clitoris.
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| circumcision | Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
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| endocrine glands | Glands that produce hormones.
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| androgens | Male sex hormones produced by the testes in males and by the adrenal glands in both sexes.
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| estrogens | A class of female sex hormones, produced by the ovaries, that bring about sexual maturation at puberty and maintain reproductive functions.
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| progestins | A class of female sex hormones, produced by the ovaries, that sustain reproductive functions.
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| adrenal glands | Endocrine glands, located over the kidneys, that produce androgens (among other hormones).
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| pituitary gland | An endocrine gland at the base of the brain that produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), among others.
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| hypothalamus | A region of the brain above the pituitary gland whose hormones control the secretions of the pituitary; also involved in the nervous control of sexual functions.
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| testosterone | The most important androgen (male sex hormone); stimulates an embryo to develop into a male and induces the development of male secondary sex characteristics during puberty.
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| puberty | The period of biological maturation during adolescence.
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| progesterone | The most important progestin (female sex hormone); induces the development of female secondary sex characteristics during puberty, regulates the menstrual cycle, and sustains pregnancy.
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| menstrual cycle | The monthly ovarian cycle, regulated by pituitary and ovarian hormones; in the absence of pregnancy, menstruation occurs.
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| corpus luteum | The part of the ovarian follicle left after ovulation, which secretes estrogen and progesterone during the second half of the menstrual cycle.
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| premenstrual tension | Mild physical and emotional changes associated with the time before the onset of menses; symptoms can include abdominal cramping and backache.
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| premenstrual syndrome (PMS) | A disorder characterized by physical discomfort, psychological distress, and behavioral changes that begin after ovulation and cease when menstruation begins.
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| premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) | Severe form of PMS, characterized by symptoms serious enough to interfere with work or school or with social activities and relationships.
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| menopause | The cessation of menstruation, occurring gradually around age 50.
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| erogenous zone | Any region of the body highly responsive to sexual stimulation.
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| vasocongestion | The accumulation of blood in tissues and organs.
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| myotonia | Increased muscular tension.
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| orgasm | The discharge of accumulated sexual tension with characteristic genital and bodily manifestations and a subjective sensation of intense pleasure.
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| semen | Seminal fluid, consisting of sperm cells and secretions from the prostate gland and seminal vesicles.
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| sexual dysfunction | A disturbance in sexual desire, performance, or satisfaction.
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| premature ejaculation | Involuntary orgasm before or shortly after the penis enters the vagina or anus; ejaculation that takes place sooner than desired.
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| masturbation | Self-stimulation for the purpose of sexual arousal and orgasm.
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| celibacy | Continuous abstention from sexual activity.
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| autoeroticism | Behavior aimed at sexual self-stimulation.
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| erotic fantasy | Sexually arousing thoughts and daydreams.
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| cunnilingus | Oral stimulation of the female genitals.
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| fellatio | Oral stimulation of the penis.
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| sexual intercourse | Sexual relations involving genital union; also called coitus, and also known as making love.
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| conception | The fusion of ovum and sperm, resulting in a fertilized egg.
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| fertilization | The initiation of biological reproduction: the union of the nucleus of an egg cell with the nucleus of a sperm cell.
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| ovary | One of the two female reproductive organs that produce ova (eggs) and sex hormones.
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| follicle | One of many saclike structures within the ovary in which eggs mature.
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| oviduct (fallopian tube) | One of two passages through which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus; the site of fertilization.
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| uterus | The hollow, thick-walled, muscular organ in which the fertilized egg develops; the womb.
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| endometrium | The mucous membrane that forms the inner lining of the cavity of the uterus.
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| fertilized egg | The egg after penetration by a sperm; a zygote.
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| testis | One of two male reproductive organs; the testes are the site of sperm production.
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| fraternal twins | Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; not genetically identical.
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| identical twins | Twins who develop from the division of a single zygote; genetically identical.
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| infertility | The inability to conceive after trying for a year or more.
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| cloning | Asexual reproduction in which offspring are genetically identical to one parent. DNA from the cell of one animal is transferred to an egg from which DNA has been removed; the egg is then placed in a surrogate and develops as though it were an embryo derived from two parents.
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| trimester | One of the three 3-month periods of pregnancy.
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| fetus | The developmental stage of a human from the ninth week after conception to the moment of birth.
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| human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) | A hormone produced by the fertilized egg that can be detected in the urine or blood of the mother within a few weeks of conception.
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| Braxton Hicks contractions | Uterine contractions that occur during the third trimester of pregnancy in preparation for labor.
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| blastocyst | A stage of development, days 6-14, when the cell cluster becomes the embryo and placenta.
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| embryo | The stage of development between blastocyst and fetus; about weeks 2-8.
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| placenta | The organ through which the fetus receives nourishment and empties waste via the mother's circulatory system; after birth, the placenta is expelled from the uterus.
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| umbilical cord | The cord connecting the placenta and fetus, through which nutrients pass.
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| amniotic sac | A membranous pouch enclosing and protecting the fetus, containing amniotic fluid.
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| ultrasonography | The use of high-frequency sound waves to view the fetus in the uterus; also known as ultrasound.
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| sonogram | The visual image of the fetus produced by ultrasonography.
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| amniocentesis | A process in which amniotic fluid is removed and analyzed to detect possible birth defects.
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| chorionic villus sampling (CVS) | Surgical removal of a tiny section of chorionic villi to be analyzed for genetic defects.
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| triple marker screen (TMS) | Measurement of alpha-fetoprotein, estriol, and human chorionic gonadotropin to assess risk of fetal anomalies.
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| teratogen | An agent or influence that causes physical defects in a developing fetus.
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| congenital malformation | A physical defect existing at the time of birth, either inherited or caused during gestation.
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| fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) | A combination of birth defects caused by excessive alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy.
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| ectopic pregnancy | A pregnancy in which the embryo develops outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.
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| spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) | Termination of pregnancy at less than 20 weeks' gestation when the uterine contents are expelled; causes include an abnormal uterus, insufficient hormones, and genetic or physical fetal defects.
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| preeclampsia | A condition of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, edema, and protein in the urine.
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| eclampsia | A severe, potentially life-threatening form of preeclampsia, characterized by convulsions and coma.
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| low birth weight (LBW) | Weighing less than 5.5 pounds at birth, often the result of prematurity.
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| sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) | The sudden death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep.
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| labor | The act or process of giving birth to a child, expelling it with the placenta from the mother's body by means of uterine contractions.
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| contraction | Shortening of the muscles in the uterine wall, which causes effacement and dilation of the cervix and assists in expelling the fetus.
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| transition | The last part of the first stage of labor, during which the cervix becomes fully dilated; characterized by intense and frequent contractions.
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| Apgar score | A formalized system for assessing a newborn's need for medical assistance.
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| cesarean section | A surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus, performed to extract a fetus.
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| postpartum period | The period of about 3 months after delivering a baby.
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| lactation | The production of milk.
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| postpartum depression | An emotional low that may be experienced by the mother after childbirth.
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