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Sexuality
the feelings, behaviors, and identities associated with sex
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Sexism
prejudice or discrimination directed against one sex - usually women
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Anatomist
researcher who studies the structure of the body
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Spermatozoon
a male gamete, produced in the testes
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Ovum
a mature female gamete, prior to/immediately after fertilization
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Homosexual
sexually attracted to persons of one's own sex
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Sex Research
the scientific study of sex
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Sexology
the scientific study of sex, especially of sexual dysfunctions
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Heterosexual
sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex
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Anthropology
the study of cultural/biological variations across the human race
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Matrilineal
tracing descent through the female line
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Feminism
the movement to secure equality for women, the study of social and psychological issues from women's perspectives
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Socialization
the effect of social influences on the development of psychological/behavioral traits
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Gender
the collection of psychological traits that differ between males and females
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Transgender
having a gender identity that is discordant with one's anatomical sex
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Transsexual
one who identifies with the other sex and who seeks to transition to the other sex by means of hormone treatment and sex reassignment surgery
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Sex Hormones
chemical messengers that influence sexual and reproductive processes
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Reproductive Physiology
the study of fertility and pregnancy
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Microbiology
the study of microscopic organisms, especially those that cause disease
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Erectile Dysfunction (AKA impotence)
a persistent inability to achieve/maintain an erection sufficient to accomplish a desired sexual behavior
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Neuroscience
the study of the nervous system
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Sexual Orientation
the direction of a person's sexual feelings toward persons of the same sex, the opposite sex, or both sexes
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Psychology
the study of mental processes and behavior
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Social Psychology
the study of our relationship to others
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Control Group
a group of subjects included in a study for comparison purposes - who do not receive treatment
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Cognitive Psychology
the study of the information processing systems of the mind
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Endocrinology
the study of glands and hormones
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Genetics
the study of the mechanisms of inheritance
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Psychobiology
the study of the biological basis of mental processes and behavior
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Evolutionary Psychology
the study of the influence of evolution on mental processes or behavior
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Cultural Psychology
the study of the interactions between culture and mental processes or behaviors
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Psychological Anthropology
the study of the interaction of cultural and mental processes.
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Partible Paternity
the belief that 2 or more men may be fathers of the same child
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Clinical Psychology
the assessment/treatment of mental/behavioral problems, as practiced by a psychologist
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Sex Therapist
a person who treats sexual dysfunctions, usually by recommending behavioral changes and sexual exercises
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Marriage and Family Counselor
therapists who assess or treat interpersonal problems arising between spouses or other intimate partners
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Sociology
the scientific study of society
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Script Theory
the analysis of sexual and other behaviors as the enactment of socially instilled roles
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Ethnography
the study of a cultural group - often by means of extended individual fieldwork
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Procreation
production of offspring
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Celibate
living under a vow not to marry or engage in sexual relations
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Polygamy
marriage to or mating with more than one partner
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Evolution
the change in the genetic makeup of living populations over time
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Heritable
capable of being passed down from parent to offspring
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Natural Selection
the survival and reproduction of those individuals that are best adapted to their environment
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Gene
a stretch of DNA that is transcribed as a functional unit; a unit of inheritance
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DNA
the linear molecule that forms the chemical basis of genes in all species except for some viruses
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Chromosome
a rod-shaped nuclear organelle composed of DNA and associated proteins
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Genome
an organism's entire complement of DNA, including all its genes
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Conjunction
contact between two bacteria accompanied by the transfer of a short stretch of DNA from one to another
- transfer mechanism
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Eukaryote
an organism whose cells contain nuclei
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Mitosis
cell division in which the chromosome number is preserved
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Asexual Reproduction
reproduction in which all the offspring's genes are inherited from a single parent
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Sexual Reproduction
reproduction in which the offspring inherit genes from two parents
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Gamete
a germ cell (sperm/ovum) that fuses with another to form a new organism
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Haploid
possessing half the usual complement of chromosomes
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Diploid
possessing the full complement of chromosomes
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Meiosis
a pair of cell divisions that produces haploid gametes
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Gonad
an organ that produces gametes (testis/ovary)
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Adaptive
helping the propagation of an organism's genes
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Red Queen hypothesis
the idea that sexual reproduction is advantageous because it helps defend organisms against parasites
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Polymorphism
a common genetic variation between individuals in a species
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Investment
the commitment or expenditure of resources for a goal, such as reproductive success
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Ovum
a mature female gamete, prior to or immediately after fertilization
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Sperm
a male gamete, produced in the testis
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Hermaphrodite
an organism that combines male and female reproductive functions
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Sex Determination
the biological mechanism that determines whether an organism will be male/female
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Autosome
any chromosome other than a sex chromosome
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Sex Chromosome
either of a pair of chromosomes (x or y in mammals) that differ between the sexes
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X Chromosome
a sex chromosome that is preset as two copies in females and one copy in males
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Y Chromosome
a sex chromosome that is present only in males
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Zygote
a cell formed by the fusion of gametes - a fertilized ovum
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SRY (Sex-determining Region of the Y Chromosome)
a gene located on the Y Chromosome that causes the embryo to develop as a male
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Sexual Selection
the evolution of traits under the pressure of competition for mates or of choice by mates
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Internal Fertilization
fertilization within the body
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Gestation
bearing young in the uterus; pregnancy
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Location
the production of milk in the mammary glands
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Semen
the fluid containing sperm and a variety of chemical compounds, that is discharged from the penis (ejaculated) at the male sexual climax
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Pheromone
a volatile compound that is released by one organism and that triggers a specific behavior in another member of the same species
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Fluctuating Asymmetry
A difference between the left and right sides of the body that results from random perturbations of development
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Copulation
sexual intercourse, coitus
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Estrus
the restricted period within the ovarian cycle when females of some species are sexually receptive - "heat"
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Proceptive Behavior
behavior by females that may elicit sexual advances by males
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Monogamy
marriage limited to 2 people/ a sexual relationship in which neither partner has sexual contact with others
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Pair Bond
a durable sexual relationship between 2 individuals
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Polygyny
the marriage/mating of one male with more than one female
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Polyandry
the marriage/mating of one female with more than one male
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Sexual Monogamy
a sexually exclusive pair bond
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Social Monogamy
a pair bond that is not sexually exclusive
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Promiscuity
engaging in numerous casual/short-lived sexual relationships
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Paternity Test
a test to identify an individual's father by DNA analysis
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Mate Guarding
a behavior in which a male animal prevents sexual contact between his mate and other males
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Kin Selection
the theory that it can be evolutionarily advantageous to support the reproductive success of close relatives
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Inclusive Fitness
the likelihood that an individual's genes will be represented in future generations, both in direct descendants and in the descendants of close relatives
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External Genitalia
the sexual structures on the outside of the body
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Vulva
the female external genetalia
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Mons Veneris (mons)
the frontmost component of the vulva; a mound of fatty tissue covering the pubic symphysis
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Pubic Symphisis
the junction of the left and right pubic bones, the frontmost elements of the pelvic skeleton
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Labia Majora
the outer lips; fleshy skin folds, partially covered in pubic hair, that extend from the mons
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Labia Minora
the inner lips; hairless, loose folds of skin located between the labia majora and immediately flanking the vestibule
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Clitoris
the erectile organ in females; external portion that's located at the junction of the labia minora, just in front of the vestibule
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Glans
the terminal knob of the clitoris or penis
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Erection
the expansion and stiffening of the clitoris, penis, or nipples in response to sexual stimulation or fantasy
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Hymen
a membrane, usually perforated or incomplete, that covers the vaginal opening
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Imperforate Hymen
a hymen that completely closes the introitus (vaginal opening)
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Urethra
the canal that conveys urine from the bladder to the urethral opening; also serves for the discharge of ejaculatory fluids (in males)
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Perineum
the region of skin between the anus and the scrotum/vulva
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Vagina
a muscular tube extending 8-10 cm from the vestibule to the uterine cervix
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Coitus
penetration of the vagina by the penis
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Gräfenberg Spot (G-Spot)
a controversial area of increased erotic sensitivity on or deep within the front wall of the vagina
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Paraurethral Glands
female equivalent of the male prostate gland - associated with "squirting"
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Anus
the exit of the gastrointestinal tract
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Uterus
the womb; a pear-shaped region of the female reproductive tract through which sperm are transported and where the conceptus implants and develops
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Cervix
the lowermost, narrow portion of the uterus that connects with the vagina
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Endometrium
the internal lining of the uterus
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Myometrium
the muscular layers of the wall of the uterus
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Menstruation
the breakdown of the endometrium at approximately monthly intervals, with consequent loss of tissue and blood from the vagina
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Pap Test
the microscopic examination of a sample of epithelial cells taken from the cervix or anus
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Oviduct (Fallopian Tubes)
either of 2 bilateral tubes that lead from the uterus toward the ovaries - the usual site of fertilization
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Ovary
female gonad, produces ova and secretes sex stroids
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Oocyte
a cell capable of developing into an ovum
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Mammary Glands
the milk-producing glands within the breasts
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Secondary Sexual Characteristics
anatomical characteristics (i.e. breasts and facial hair) that generally differ between the sexes but are not used to define an individual's sex
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Lobules
located in the lobes of the breast
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Alveoli
located in the lobules of the lobes
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Milk producing cells
located in the alveoli of breasts
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