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Flowers are the sex organs of flowering plants.
A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, as narrowly defined, is any of the anatomical parts of the body which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in a complex organism; flowers are the reproductive organs of flowering plants,[1] cones are the reproductive organs of coniferous plants,[2] whereas mosses, ferns, and other similar plants have gametangia for reproductive organs.[3]
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Contents
- 1 Human genitals
- 1.1 Summary
- 1.2 Development
- 2 Plants
- 3 Terminology
- 3.1 Anatomical terms related to sex
- 4 See also
- 5 References
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Human genitals
Main articles: Male reproductive system (human) and Female reproductive system
The visible portion of the human genitals for males consists of scrotum and a penis, for females it consists of the labia, clitoris and vagina. Women have two genital orifices, the vagina and urethra, while men have only one, the urethra. Both male and female genitals have many nerve endings, resulting in pleasurable and highly sensitive touch.[4][5]
In most civilized human societies, particularly in conservative ones, genitals are considered a public indecency and sometimes even illegal if left uncovered in public.[6]
Summary
In mammals, sex organs include:
| Female |
Male |
- Bartholin's glands
- cervix
- clitoris
- clitoral hood
- clitoral glans (glans clitoridis)
- Fallopian tubes
- labium
- ovaries
- Skene's gland
- uterus
- vagina
- vulva
Human female external sex organ with pubic hair removed
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- bulbourethral glands
- epididymis
- penis
- prostate
- scrotum
- seminal vesicles
- testicles
Human male external sex organs
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Development
Main article: Development of the reproductive system
In typical prenatal development, sexual organs originate from a common anlage anatomy during early gestation and differentiate into male or female variations. The SRY gene, usually located on the Y chromosome and encoding the testis determining factor, determines the direction of this differentiation. The absence of it allows the gonads to continue to develop into ovaries.
Thereafter, the development of the internal reproductive organs and the external genitalia is determined by hormones produced by certain fetal gonads (ovaries or testes) and the cells' response to them. The initial appearance of the fetal genitalia (a few weeks after conception) looks basically feminine: a pair of "urogenital folds" with a small protuberance in the middle, and the urethra behind the protuberance. If the fetus has testes, and if the testes produce testosterone, and if the cells of the genitals respond to the testosterone, the outer urogenital folds swell and fuse in the midline to produce the scrotum; the protuberance grows larger and straighter to form the penis; the inner urogenital swellings grow, wrap around the penis, and fuse in the midline to form the penile urethra.
Each sexual organ in one sex has a homologous counterpart in the other one. See a list of homologues of the human reproductive system.
In a larger perspective, the whole process of sexual differentiation also includes development of secondary sexual characteristics such as patterns of pubic and facial hair and female breasts that emerge at puberty. Furthermore, differences in brain structure arise, affecting, but not absolutely determining, behavior.
Plants
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This section requires expansion. (July 2010) |
Flowering plants
Sexual reproduction in flowering plants involves the union of the male and female germ cells. The sex organs, contained within the flower, may contain both male and female sex organs (these are known as perfect, bisexual, or hermaphrodite) or only one of the two (known as imperfect or unisexual). Also, those plants whose flowers are unisexual may contain both male and female flowers, or there may be purely male and female plants of the same species.
During a plant's sexual reproduction the stamen (male sex organ) produces pollen from an anther. These male germ cells are carried to the pistil (female sex organ), with the ovary at its base where fertilization can take place. The male germ cells can be carried by air, rain, water, insects or other symbiotic animals, or simply by gravity.
Terminology
The Latin term genitalia, sometimes anglicized as genital area, is used to describe the externally visible sex organs, known as primary genitalia or external genitalia: in males, the penis and scrotum; and in females, the clitoris and vulva.
The other, hidden sex organs are referred to as the secondary genitalia or internal genitalia. The most important of these are the gonads, a pair of sex organs, specifically the testes in the male or the ovaries in the female. Gonads are the true sex organs, generating reproductive gametes containing inheritable DNA. They also produce most of the primary hormones that affect sexual development, and regulate other sexual organs and sexually differentiated behaviors.
A more ambiguously defined term is erogenous zone, subjectively, any portion of the body that when stimulated produces erotic sensation, but always prominently including the genitalia.
Anatomical terms related to sex
The following is a list of anatomical terms related to sex and sexuality:
- Anterior fornix erogenous zone
- Areola
- Bartholin's gland
- Breast
- Bulbospongiosus muscle
- Bulbourethral gland
- Cervix
- Pudendal cleft
- Clitoris
- Corona of glans penis
- Corpus cavernosum of clitoris
- Corpus spongiosum penis
- Cremaster muscle
- Dartos
- Deep perineal pouch
- Egg (biology)
- Ejaculatory duct
- Endometrium
- Epididymis
- Fallopian tube
- Foreskin
- Frenulum
- Frenulum clitoridis
- Frenulum labiorum pudendi
- Frenulum of prepuce of penis
- Fundiform ligament
- G-spot
- Gartner's duct
- Genital tubercle
- Genitofemoral nerve
- Glans
- Hymen
- Internal pudendal artery
- Intromittent organ
- Ischiocavernosus muscle
- Labia majora
- Labia minora
- Labium (genitalia)
- Mammary gland
- meatus
- Mons pubis
- Müllerian duct
- Nipple
- Ovary
- Ovum
- Penile artery
- Penis
- Perineum
- Prepuce
- Prostate
- Pubic hair
- Pubic symphysis
- Pubococcygeus muscle
- Pudendal nerve
- Perineal raphe
- Recto-uterine pouch
- Ridged band
- Scrotum
- Seminal vesicle
- Seminiferous tubule
- Skene's gland
- Spermatic cord
- Spermatozoon
- Splanchnic nerves
- Testicle
- Tunica albuginea of testis
- Urethra
- Urethral sphincter
- Urethral sponge
- Uterus
- Vagina
- Vas deferens
- Vulva
See also
- Castration
- Circumcision
- Erogenous zone
- Genital modification and mutilation
- Human sexuality
- Hysterectomy
- Intersexuality
- Intimate parts
- List of transgender-related topics
- Mastectomy
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
- Oophorectomy
- Secondary sex characteristics
- Sex
- Human sexual behavior
- Sexual intercourse
- List of sex positions
References
- ^ "Flowering Plant Reproduction". Emc.maricopa.edu. 2010-05-18. http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookflowers.html. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
- ^ ibiblio.org
- ^ "Mosses and Ferns". Biology.clc.uc.edu. 2001-03-16. http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/Bio106/mosses.htm. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
- ^ Sexual Intimacy in Marriage William Cutrer
- ^ Daphne's Dance: True Tales in the Evolution of Woman's Sexual Awareness Brigitta Olsen
- ^ Unpopular Privacy: What Must We Hide? retrieved 9 February 2012
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Human regional anatomy (TA A01.1)
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| Head |
- Forehead (Sinciput)
- Ear
- Jaw
- Face (Cheek
- Eye
- Nose
- Mouth
- Chin)
- Occiput
- Scalp
- Temple
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| Neck |
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| Trunk |
- Chest (Breast)
- Abdomen (Navel)
- Back
- Pelvis (Sex organs)
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| Limbs |
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Upper limb
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- Shoulder
- Axilla
- Arm
- Elbow
- Forearm
- Wrist
- Hand
- Finger
- Thumb
- Index
- Middle
- Ring
- Little
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Lower limb/
(see also leg)
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- Hip
- Buttocks
- Thigh
- Knee
- Calf
- Crus
- Ankle
- Heel
- Foot
- Toe
- Hallux
- Long
- Third
- Fourth
- Fifth
- Sole
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General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs
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Human systems and organs
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TA 2–4:
MS |
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Skeletal system
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Bone (Carpus · Collar bone (clavicle) · Thigh bone (femur) · Fibula · Humerus · Mandible · Metacarpus · Metatarsus · Ossicles · Patella · Phalanges · Radius · Skull (cranium) · Tarsus · Tibia · Ulna · Rib · Vertebra · Pelvis · Sternum) · Cartilage
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Joints
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Fibrous joint · Cartilaginous joint · Synovial joint
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Muscular system
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Muscle · Tendon · Diaphragm
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TA 5–11:
splanchnic/
viscus |
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mostly
Thoracic
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Respiratory system
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URT (Nose, Nasopharynx, Larynx) · LRT (Trachea, Bronchus, Lung)
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mostly
Abdominopelvic
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Digestive system+
adnexa
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Mouth (Salivary gland, Tongue) · upper GI (Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx, Esophagus, Stomach) · lower GI (Small intestine, Appendix, Colon, Rectum, Anus) · accessory (Liver, Biliary tract, Pancreas)
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GU: Urinary system
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Kidney · Ureter · Bladder · Urethra
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GU: Reproductive system
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Female (Uterus, Vagina, Vulva, Ovary, Placenta) · Male (Scrotum, Penis, Prostate, Testicle, Seminal vesicle)
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Endocrine system
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Pituitary · Pineal · Thyroid · Parathyroid · Adrenal · Islets of Langerhans
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| TA 12–16 |
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Circulatory system
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Cardiovascular system
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peripheral (Artery, Vein, Lymphatic vessel) · Heart
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Lymphatic system
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primary (Bone marrow, Thymus) · secondary (Spleen, Lymph node)
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Nervous system
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(Brain, Spinal cord, Nerve) · Sensory system (Ear, Eye)
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Integumentary system
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Skin · Subcutaneous tissue · Breast (Mammary gland)
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Blood
(Non-TA) |
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Myeloid
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Myeloid immune system
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Lymphoid
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Lymphoid immune system
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General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs
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