Sperm are the male reproductive cells found in semen. When mature and motile, they are referred to as spermatozoa (singular: spermatozoon). In humans, sperm cells ideally contain 23 chromosomes (half of a human’s genetic material) and may combine with the 23 chromosomes contained in a female’s ovum during fertilization to form a new human being.1 A…
Category: The Body
Sex Determination and Differentiation
In humans, biological sex is determined by a specific set of chromosomes. Chromosomes are long, threadlike structures of DNA that encode for different traits in an organism. Humans have a total of 46 chromosomes. These include 22 pairs of autosomes, which are the chromosomes that are the same in males and females, and one pair…
Menstrual Products
The most familiar stage of a female’s menstrual cycle is the period. A period is characterized by bleeding from the vagina that lasts approximately three to seven days. Menstrual products provide feminine hygiene by collecting or absorbing blood. There are countless different methods and products that provide this hygienic benefit. The most commonly used menstrual…
The Sexual Response Cycle
The sexual response cycle refers to a series of physical and emotional phases that occur when an individual becomes aroused or engages in sexually stimulating activities. Sexual stimulation during such activities is not limited to penile-vaginal intercourse. The full sexual response cycle can be experienced during masturbation, manual stimulation by one’s partner, oral sex, or fantasy. A comprehensive knowledge and understanding…
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is the production and development of sperm. This process begins at puberty and continues for the remainder of a male’s life. The sperm and the egg, which are the male and female gametes, meet during fertilization. Both gametes are haploid cells; these cells contain 23 unpaired chromosomes, which is half of the human genetic…
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is an automatic and self-regulating process during which the female body undergoes physiological and hormonal changes over the course of 24 to 42 days. This process plays an integral role in to the overall health and function of the female reproductive system and fosters the growth of fertilized ovum into developing fetuses….
The Clitoris
The clitoris is a female sexual organ located at the top part of the vulva, or external female genitalia. The clitoris is an erogenous, highly sensitive zone that contains more nerve endings than any other body part. During sexual arousal, the clitoris becomes larger and firmer due to erection. Although stimulation of the clitoris is…
The G-Spot
The Gräfenberg spot (G-spot), named after German gynecologist Ernst Gräfenberg, is an erogenous area in the vagina, which upon proper stimulation may cause a person to experience sexual arousal that can lead to orgasm, and in some instances ejaculation. The G-spot is located approximately two to three centimeters inside the vaginal canal on the anterior (front wall) of the vagina and changes in size in response to physical stimulation. 1 Prior to stimulation, the…
Overview of the Reproductive System: People with Vaginas
Note: This article was previously titled ‘An Overview of the Female Reproductive System.’ We have changed the language from ‘female’ to ‘people with vaginas’ in the title and throughout the article to be more inclusive, as not all people who identify as women or female have vaginas and not all people with vaginas identify as…