| sex | The distinction between male and female based on biological characteristics.
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| gender | The psychological experience of being male or female.
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| gender identity | One's view of oneself as male or female.
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| gender role | The behaviors consistent with being male or female in a given culture.
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| sexual orientation | The tendency to prefer romantic and sexual partners of the same or different sex.
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| androgynous | Having both typical feminine and masculine characteristics.
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| evolutionary theory of gender differences | The theory that gender differences are based on genes that resulted from different evolutionary pressures on ancestral women and men.
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| social-role theory of gender differences | The theory that the opportunities and restrictions inherent in women's and men's different social roles create psychological gender differences.
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| heterosexual | Romantically and sexually attracted to those of the different sex.
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| homosexual | Romantically and sexually attracted to those of the same sex, as distinguished from heterosexual.
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| uterus | The muscular structure that carries the fetus during pregnancy.
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| ovaries | Female endocrine glands that secrete sex-related hormones and produce ova, or eggs.
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| fallopian tubes | The tubes through which ova (eggs) reach the uterus.
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| cervix | The neck of the uterus that is connected to the vagina.
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| vulva | The external genital structures of the female.
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| mons | The fleshy mound that sits at the top of the vulva.
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| labia majora | The larger, outer lips of the vulva.
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| labia minora | The smaller, inner lips of the vulva.
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| clitoris | The structure at the upper part of the vagina that is most sensitive to sexual stimulation in females.
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| testes | Male endocrine glands that secrete sexrelated hormones and produce sperm cells.
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| epididymis | The structure that holds sperm cells until ejaculation.
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| vas deferens | The structure that carries sperm from the epididymis toward the outside of the body during ejaculation.
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| semen | The fluid that contains sperm cells.
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| prostate gland | One of the structures that produce fluid for semen.
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| seminal vesicle | One of the structures that produce fluid for semen.
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| penis | The tubular structure that becomes erect during sexual arousal and through which sperm is ejaculated.
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| scrotum | The loose skin sac that encloses the testes.
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| excitement phase | The first stage of the sexual response cycle, during which the penis becomes erect and the vagina lubricates.
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| plateau phase | High levels of sexual arousal and pleasure that are maintained for variable periods of time.
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| orgasm | The reflexive phase of the sexual response cycle accompanied by peak levels of arousal and pleasure and usually by ejaculation in males.
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| resolution phase | The stage in the sexual response cycle following orgasm when arousal and pleasure diminish.
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| refractory period | The period of time following orgasm during which males are incapable of sexual arousal.
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| atypical sexual behavior | Sexual practice that differs considerably from the norm.
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| transvestism | The practice of obtaining sexual pleasure by dressing in the clothes of the opposite sex.
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| transsexualism | A condition in which an individual feels trapped in the body of the wrong sex.
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| fetishism | The practice of obtaining sexual arousal primarily or exclusively from specific objects.
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| sexual sadism | The practice of obtaining sexual pleasure by inflicting pain on others.
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| sexual masochism | A condition in which receiving pain is sexually exciting.
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| voyeurism | The practice of obtaining sexual pleasure by watching members of the opposite sex undressing or engaging in sexual activities.
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| exhibitionism | The practice of obtaining sexual pleasure by exposing one's genitals to others.
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| rape | The act of forcing sexual activity on an unwilling person.
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| rape trauma syndrome | The effects of rape on the emotions, behavior, and well-being of many victims long after the rape has occurred.
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| incest | Sexual relations between relatives.
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| child rape | Sexual behavior with a child achieved by force or direct threat of force.
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| child molestation | Sexual behavior with a child without force or direct threat of force.
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| pedophilia | The practice of obtaining pleasure from sexual contact with children.
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| sexual harassment | Unwanted sexual advances, comments, or any other form of coercive sexual behavior by others.
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| sexual dysfunction | An inability to engage successfully or comfortably in normal sexual activities.
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| inhibited sexual desire | A condition in which a person desires sex rarely or not at all.
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| sexual aversion disorder | A condition in which a person fearfully avoids sexual behavior.
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| female sexual arousal disorder | A condition in which sexual arousal does not occur in appropriate circumstances in a female.
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| vaginismus | A female sexual dysfunction in which the individual experiences involuntary contractions of the vaginal walls, making the vagina too narrow to allow the penis to enter comfortably.
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| dyspareunia | A sexual dysfunction in which the individual experiences pain during intercourse.
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| male sexual arousal disorders | Conditions in which sexual arousal does not occur in appropriate circumstances in a male.
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| erectile dysfunction | A condition in which the penis does not become erect enough for intercourse under sexually arousing circumstances.
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| inhibited female orgasm | A female sexual dysfunction in which the individual is unable to experience orgasm.
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| premature ejaculation | A male sexual dysfunction in which the individual reaches orgasm and ejaculates sperm too early.
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| retarded ejaculation | A condition in which a male does not ejaculate despite adequate sexual stimulation.
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| sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) | Physical diseases, such as syphilis and AIDS, that are transmitted through sexual contact.
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| syphilis | A sexually transmitted disease caused by spirochete bacteria.
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| acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) | A viral disease spread by blood and other body fluids that eventually destroys the body's immune system.
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