SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Important for understanding behaviour.

Only clearly male and female types

presented but there are variations.

Within clear male and female types also
great variability.
Self-examination, self-knowledge
important.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Sex
Breasts
Nipples
Penis
Testes
Erection
Sperm
Semen
Vulva

Clitoris
Vagina
Intercourse
Ejaculation
Orgasm
Fellatio
Cunnilingus
Masturbation
Respect and Decency

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

TRUE OR FALSE?

A name for the external female genitals is

derived from Latin meaning something to be
ashamed of.
Women, but not men, have a sex organ
whose only known function is sexual pleasure.
It can be determined if a woman is a virgin by
examining her hymen.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

TRUE OR FALSE (CONTD)

Women with large breasts produce

more milk than women with small
breasts.

Many men who are paralyzed below the

waist can attain erection and ejaculate.

Men can have orgasm without

ejaculating.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

TRUE OR FALSE (CONTD)

Men with large penises give women more

sexual pleasure than men with small penises.
Womens genitals are naturally foul smelling.
Male and female circumcision are almost
identical.
Only middle-aged people need to practice
breast or testicular self-examination.
There is a positive correlation between
number of sexual partners a woman has and
cervical cancer incidence.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

FEMALE EXTERNAL ANATOMY

Mons veneris or mons pubis
Perineum: pelvic floor Kegel muscles
Vulva:

clitoris, hood
labia majora (large, outer lips)
labia minora (small, inner lips)
urethral meatus (for urine)
vaginal opening: introitus
hymen (not proof of virginity)

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Clitoridectomy: surgical removal of the

clitoris (affects orgasmic capacity). Last

one performed in U.S. in 1964, to cure
masturbation.
Infibulation: surgical removal of clitoris and
labia, closing of the introitus.
Usually no anesthetic, poor hygiene,
sepsis: pain, infections, painful
intercourse, difficult birth, high rate of
stillbirths, life-threatening.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Pelvic Floor:

PC or pubococcygeus
muscle: contracts
during orgasm.
Iliococcygeus muscle.
Kegel exercises:
contract PC muscle
voluntarily. A stronger
PC muscle leads to
better orgasms.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

FEMALE INTERNAL ANATOMY

Vagina, a.k.a. birth canal
Graefenberg spot (G spot)
Cervix
Uterus, lined by endometrium
(endometriosis)
Fallopian tubes, fimbria
Ovaries: produce ova (ovum: egg), follicle
produce estrogen, progesterone.

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FEMALE INTERNAL ANATOMY (CONTD)

Hysterectomy: surgical removal of uterus.
Oophorectomy: surgical removal of ovaries
Too many done in N. America.
Surgical complications (short and long term) but
also cervix and uterus important for sexual
enjoyment, arousal and orgasm.
Without uterus, abdominal organs prolapse, may
protrude into vagina.
Recurring infections, pain, discomfort.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

DISEASES OF FEMALE ORGANS

Cervical cancer: STD 33% in NL condom
Uterine cancer: rare, mostly benign tumours
Fallopian tubes: mostly blockages due to scar
tissue, due to STDs, infertility
PID: pelvic inflammatory disease: can affect
internal reproductive organs, different
pathogens, most often STDs, infertility

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Breasts

Mammary gland: lobules, ducts and sinuses

Fat tissue
Areola, nipple
Breast cancer: self-examination lifestyle,
genes
Augmentations: health problems, compromises
breastfeeding.
Reduction: for comfort, can also compromise
breastfeeding.

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MALE EXTERNAL ANATOMY

Penis or phallus:

glans
prepuce (foreskin) (smegma)
coronal ridge
frenulum
urethral opening

Scrotum

(contains testicles)

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

MALE EXTERNAL ANATOMY (Contd)

Circumcision: ritual (religious) or medical;
controversial.
Pros: better genital health (partners too).
Cons: newborns feel pain (anesthetic),
surgical accidents.
No evidence of decreased sensitivity.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Penis

Externally: varying shapes and lengths.

Effect on sex: psychological.

But since you asked

Average flaccid (non-erect) size:

2.8 to 4.3 inches

Average erect size:

4.9 to 6.9 inches

smaller penises increase in size during erection more than larger

ones
e.g. 3 in. 6 in. (3 in. increase)
4 in. 6.5 in. (2.5 in. increase)

many women prefer average or under average penises and are

somewhat apprehensive about large penises

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Scrotum:

varied colour, size and texture. Usually

asymmetrical.
Can ascend or descend (involuntary muscle
control: dartos and cremaster muscle)
depending on temperature (internal and
external) and state of arousal

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Male Internal Structures:

Testes (testicles).
Seminiferous tubules (make and store sperm).
Interstitial cells in testes: make testosterone.
Epididymis: store sperm till maturity.
Vas Deferens: carry sperm to urethra.
Seminal Vesicles: make seminal fluid.
Prostate: makes white fluid, alkaline.
Cowpers glands: more alkaline fluid.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

IMPORTANCE OF TEMPERATURE FOR

SPERM PRODUCTION
Testes descend prenatally from pelvis to
scrotum. Need to be about 2C (6F)
cooler than body temperature for optimal
sperm production
Undescended testes: cryptorchidia, leads
to infertility can be corrected surgically.

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

IMPORTANCE OF TEMPERATURE FOR

SPERM PRODUCTION
Sperm count can decrease (infertility?) if:

long hot baths

prolonged fever
long distance truck drivers, any long sitting
steel workers close to furnaces
jockey shorts, tight jeans

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

IMPORTANCE OF TEMPERATURE FOR

SPERM PRODUCTION (Contd)
Other causes of low sperm count:

severe stress
high altitudes
radiation
some types of chemical pollution

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Semen:

Or ejaculate: spermatozoa plus fluids from

glands
About 3-5 cc average with 40-100 million
sperm
Low sperm count: under 20 million
some say 10 million
Count varies from study to study
Quality of sperm very important

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Issues associated with male genitals:

circumcision is associated with lower

incidence of HIV and of penile cancer.
prostate cancer: common in older men,
usually slow progress, should have checks
after 45 or earlier if symptoms.
fracture of the penis: rare, but can happen,
usually during sex when fully erect if body
weight suddenly put on penis

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Testicular cancer:

Could be unrelated to lifestyle or family history or general

health status, but higher incidence if
a)
b)

family history
cryptorchidia (undescended testicles)

Self examination during shower

Possible signs:

Age range: 15-35

lumps
pain in scrotum
feeling of heaviness in lower abdomen or scrotum
dull ache in lower abdomen or groin

Very treatable, 98% success rate when discovered early

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Issues associated with male genitals:

(Contd)

cancer of the penis: rare can be fatal if not

treated early. Risk factors are

over 50
history of multiple sex partners
history of STDs
poor genital hygiene
smoking

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Issues associated

with male genitals:

(Contd)

priapism: prolonged erection due to constant

vibration (e.g. snowmobile), some pathological
conditions, use of drugs like Cialis. Painful.
Priapo (Greek) or Priapus (Latin: God of Fertility

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Some men get penile and/or testicular surgical

augmentation. No long term studies yet, but
reports of dissatisfied patients.
Cosmetic surgery is also being used extensively
to alter female genitalia.
In the past, some women needed genital
cosmetic surgery for medical reasons (e.g. a
botched episiotomy, an accident) but rarely done.
More recently, women from certain immigrant
groups requested re-hymenization (reconstruction
of the hymen) due to strict rules about virginity
before marriage. Even some Western women
requested it upon finding out, some as a wedding
anniversary gift for their husbands!

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

The greatest influence has been the

popularization of pornography on the Internet
seeing perfect vulvas. Tenfold increase in recent
years.
Available modifications (referred to as designer
vaginas):

Labioplasty: reduction of the labia minora

Plumping up labia with shots of the womans own fat
tissue
Collagen shots to increase the size of the G-spot (for
extra sexual pleasure)
Reduction of the clitoral hood
Tightening of the vagina and of the whole perineal area

SEX AT THE ANATOMICAL LEVEL

Dr. Lenore Tiefer calls this culture disease of

self-consciousness.
There can be post-surgical complications,
long and short-term and disfigurement from
poor surgical techniques. Laser can be used
instead of a scalpel, but there are risks with
this method as well.