Female and Male Reproductive and Sexual Anatomy

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Reproductive and sexual anatomy (also known as sex anatomy) includes both the genitals that are visible outside the body as well as the internal sex and reproductive organs.

Many people have questions about sexual anatomy. In fact, the most common questions sex educators answer are about sex anatomy. People especially young people are often curious where certain body parts are, how those body parts work, and if their body parts are normal.

Here are some of the most common questions we hear about sexual anatomy. We hope you find them helpful.

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Vulva The vulva includes all of a womans external sex organs:

Mons Veneris The mons veneris is the fleshy, triangular mound above the vulva that is covered with pubic hair in adolescent and adult women. It cushions the pubic bone.

Key Parts: Female External

VaginaThe vagina is the stretchable passage that connects a womans external sex organs with her cervix and uterus. The vagina is a tube with walls of wrinkled tissue that lay against one another. The walls open just enough to allow something to go in the vagina like a tampon, finger, or penis.

The vagina is 24 inches long when a woman is not aroused and 48 inches long when she is sexually aroused.

The vagina has three functions:

Cervix The cervix is the narrow, lower part of the uterus. It has an opening that connects the uterus to the vagina. This opening allows menstrual blood to leave the uterus and sperm to enter into the uterus, and is what dilates stretches open during labor.

Uterus The uterus is a pear-shaped, muscular reproductive organ from which women menstruate and where a normal pregnancy develops. The uterus is normally about the size of a womans fist. It stretches many times that size during pregnancy. It is sometimes referred to as the womb.

During sexual arousal, the lower end of the uterus lifts toward the abdomen, which creates more space at the end of the vagina. This is called tenting.

Fallopian Tubes The fallopian tubes are two narrow tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Sperm travels into the fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg. Fimbriae The fimbriae are like dozens of tiny fingers at the end of each fallopian tube that sweep the egg from the ovary into the tube.

Ovaries The ovaries are two organs that store eggs in a womans body. Ovaries also produce hormones, includingestrogen,progesterone, andtestosterone. During puberty, the ovaries start to release eggs each month and do so untilmenopause. Usually, one ovary releases an egg each month.

Bartholins GlandsThe Bartholins glands are two glands that release fluid to lubricate the vagina during sexual arousal. They are located on either side of the vaginal opening.

HymenThe hymen is thethin fleshy tissue that stretches across part of the opening to the vagina.

G Spot The G spot, or Grfenberg spot, is located on the front wall of the vagina the wall that is closest to the abdomen. It is about 12 inches inside the vagina. The G spot is very sensitive and swells during sexual excitement.

Skenes GlandsThe Skenes glands are located in the vulva on opposite sides of the opening to the urethra. They release the fluid that is ejaculated duringfemale ejaculation. They are also called paraurethral glands or female prostate glands.

UrethraThe urethra is the tube that empties the bladder and carries urine out of the body.

Key Parts: Female Internal, front view

Key Parts: Female Internal, side view

Penis The penis is a mans reproductive and sex organ. It is formed of three columns of spongy tissue the corpus spongiosum and two corpora cavernosa that fill with blood during sexual excitement, causing an erection (hard on). The penis extends from the lower portion of the belly. It is made up of a shaft and a glans (also known as the head) and is very sensitive to the touch. A mans urethra is enclosed in his penis. It carries urine, pre-ejaculate, and semen out of his body.

Opening of the Urethra The opening of the urethra is located at the tip of the penis. This is where pre-ejaculate, semen, and urine leave the body.

ForeskinThe foreskin is a retractable tube of skin that covers and protects the head (glans). Some men have had their foreskin removed bycircumcisionduring infancy. Some choose to be circumcised later in life.

FrenulumThe frenulum is where the foreskin attaches to the underside of the penis just below the glans. Usually, a portion of it remains after circumcision.

Scrotum The scrotum is a sac of skin divided into two parts, enclosing the internal reproductive organs the testicles.

Key Parts: Male External, uncircumcised

Key Parts: Male External, circumcised

The testicles are two ball-like glands inside the scrotum that produce sperm and hormones, including testosterone. Also called testes, the testicles are sensitive to the touch.

EpididymisThe epididymis is the tube in which sperm mature. An epididymis leads from each testicle to each vas deferens. It stores sperm before ejaculation. It is tightly coiled on top of and behind each testicle.

Cremaster The muscle that automatically brings the testicles closer to the body as temperatures get colder or when the front or inner surface of the thigh is stimulated. The automatic response of the cremaster muscle is called the cremaster reflex. (If only one thigh is stimulated, only the testicle closest to the stimulated thigh is elevated.)

Vas DeferensA vas deferens is a long, narrow tube that carries sperm from the epididymis to the seminal vesicles during ejaculation. There are two of themone connected to each epididymis.

Prostate Gland The prostate gland produces a fluid that helps sperm move through a mans reproductive tract. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut or golf ball. The prostate is sensitive to pressure and to the touch the male G-spot.

Cowpers GlandsThe Cowpers glands are beneath the prostate and attach to the urethra. They produce a fluid pre-ejaculate or pre-cum that prepares the urethra for ejaculation. Pre-ejaculate reduces friction in the urethra, making it easier for semen to pass through. Cowpers glands are also called bulbourethral glands.

Seminal Vesicles Seminal vesicles are two small organs that produce seminal fluid. The seminal vesicles are located below the bladder.

UrethraThe urethra is a tube that empties the bladder and carries urine, pre-ejaculate, and semen to the urethral opening.

Key Parts: Male Internal

Intersex

Some people are born with external sex organs that are not easily distinguishable as female or male. This is calledintersex. About oneout of2,000 people born in the U.S. is intersex.

When it comes to sex, women and men are more alike than they are different. In many ways, for example, the brain can be said to be our most important sex organ. The brain controls our sexual responses, releases sex hormones, and it is where all our sex fantasies, and sexual identities live. This is just as true for women as it is for men.

Skin is the largest organ of the body. It carries a network of highly sensitive nerves all over our bodies, so that any body part may be stimulated for sexual arousal. In this way, to
o, our skin is our biggest sex organ. This also is just as true for men as it is for women.

Any part of the body that is sensitive to sensual touch whether or not it is part of our sex anatomy is called an erogenous zone. For both women and men, this may include our breasts and nipples, our anuses, the backs of our necks, our lips, our mouths and tongues, the smalls of our backs, our fingers and toes, the palms of our hands, the soles of the feet, the lobes of our ears, our inner thighs, etc. Some of these may be erogenous zones for many of us.

2014 Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc.

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Female and Male Reproductive and Sexual Anatomy