Human

Sexual
Anatomy &
Physiology
Human Sexuality
Prenatal
Sexual
Differentiation

Genetic
Factors
Initially, there are more males than females
Prenatal Sexual Differentiation
Gonads -[become]-> Testes or Ovaries
In males, at 7th week, outer portions of
gonads degenerate and inner portions
develop into testes
In females, at 11th week, inner portions
of gonads degenerate and outer
portions develop into ovaries
Prenatal Sexual Differentiation
Gonads -[become]-> Testes or Ovaries
Testes - endocrine glands that produce
• male hormones
(androgens)
• Mullerian Inhibiting
Substance
Most changes reflect the presence or
absence of androgen
Prenatal Sexual Differentiation

Wolfian Ducts - later become

• epididymes
• vasa deferentia
• seminal vesicles
Wolfian
Ducts
develop
into Male
Anatomy
Prenatal Sexual Differentiation
Gonads -[become]-> Testes or Ovaries
Ovaries- endocrine glands that
produce
• female hormones
(e.g.estrogen)
Prenatal Sexual Differentiation

Mullerian Ducts - later

become
• uterus
• fallopian tubes
• upper part of vagina
Mullerian
Ducts develop
into Female
Anatomy
 Undifferentiated External
Genitalia (<7 weeks)

genital
urethral tubercle
fold &
groove
Partially differentiated external
male & female genitalia
Fully developed male &
female external genitalia
Fetal external genitals:
female

11-12 weeks 19 weeks

Fetal external genitals:
female

5 months
Fetal external genitals:
male

15 weeks 16 weeks
Fetal external genitals:
male 5
m
o
n
t
h
s
Hormonal Hypothalamus
Changes in FSH- LH-
Puberty RF RF

Anterior Pituitary
Hormonal Hypothalamus
Changes in FSH- LH-
Puberty RF RF

Anterior Pituitary
FSH FSH
LH ICSH(LH)

OVARIES TESTES
Hormonal Hypothalamus
Changes in FSH- LH-
Puberty RF RF

Anterior Pituitary
FSH FSH
LH ICSH(LH)

OVARIES TESTES

Ovum Ovulation Testosterone

Growth Corpus Luteum

Progesterone Spermatogenesis
Estrogen
 Changes in Puberty
Hormonal changes are correlated with
changes in height
10

9
Height gain in centimeters per

boys
year

5
girls
4

0
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Age
Female Sexual Anatomy

Two Plates by Judy Chicago

External Female Sexual Anatomy
 Vulva
 Mons
 Labia Majora
 Labia Minora
 Bartholin’s Glands
 Clitoris

• inside - 2 corpora cavernosa

 Hymen
Clitoris
Variations in Labia
Internal Female Anatomy
 Ovaries
 Uterus - back - fundus

- front - cervix
 Layers of Uterus

• perimetrium
• myometrium
• endometrium
Ovaries &
Fallopian
Tubes
Close-up of an ovary
endometrium
myometriun
perimetrium

cervix
vagina