Sexual Behaviors Flashcards

1
Q

müllerian ducts

A

precursors to female internal structures (present in males and females in early prenatal development)

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2
Q

wolffian ducts

A

precursors to male internal structures (present in both males and females in early prenatal development)

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3
Q

sex-determining region on Y chromosome (SRY gene)

A

sex-determining region on the Y chromosome. causes undifferentiated gonads to develop into testes which then produce testosterone and MIG to direct development towards the male pattern

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4
Q

androgens

A

hormones more abundant in males that increase the growth of the testes (positive feedback). also cause solffian ductso to develop into seminal vesicles & vas deferens.

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5
Q

müllerian inhibiting hormone (MIH)

A

released by testes to cause müllerian ducts to degenerate.

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6
Q

development of penis & scrotum

A

SRY gene -> causes gonads to -> testes -> release androgens -> (cause growth of testes -> release of androgens) -> androgens cause wolffian ducts to become -> seminal ducts & vas deferens -> testes produce müllerian inhigibing hormone (MIH) -> causes müllerian ducts to degenerate

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7
Q

development of ovaries

A

lack of SRY gene -> development of gonads -> ovaries -> wolffian ducts degenerate -> müllerian ducts develop into -> oviducts, uterus & upper vagina

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8
Q

estrogens

A

hormones more abundant in females. produced by ovaries

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9
Q

steroid hormones

A

hormones that contain four carbon rings and derived from cholesterol.

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10
Q

3 ways steroids exert effects

A

1) bind to membrane receptors to exert rapid effects.
2) they enter cells & activate certain kinds of proteins in the cytoplasm
3) bind to receptors that bind to chromosomes where they activate/inactivate certain genes

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11
Q

most widely known androgen

A

testosterone

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12
Q

2 most widely known estrogen

A

estradiol & progesterone

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13
Q

progesterone

A

prepares the uterus for implantation of fertilized ovum & promotes maintenance of pregnancy

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14
Q

organizing effects

A

long lasting structural effects occur during sensitive stage of early development before birth which determines whether body will be male or female

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15
Q

activating effect

A

temporary effects present when a hormone increases some activity that lasts only when that hormone is present. can occur at any time in life.

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16
Q

sensitive period

A

when hormones determine whether an embryo develops male or female anatomy (3- mo of pregnancy)

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17
Q

high levels of estrogens and androgens during early development would cause what genital appearance?

A

the animal would appear male.

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18
Q

low levels of estrogens and androgens during early development would cause what genital appearance?

A

the animal would appear female.

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19
Q

what are some drugs pregnant women should avoid to protect a male fetus’s sexual development?

A

alcohol, aspirin, haloperidol, cocaine…

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20
Q

sexually dimorphic nucleus

A

larger in males & contributes to control of male sexual behavior. found in anterior hypothalamus

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21
Q

what does the female hypothalamus do that males cannot?

A

generate cyclic pattern of hormone release (i.e. menstrual cycle)

22
Q

alpha-fetoprotein

A

not present in adults. binds with estradiol & prevents it from entering cells where it could masculinize. present in females not males.

23
Q

how would the external genitals appear on a genetic female rat that lacked alpha-fetoprotein?

A

they would be masculinized by her own estradiol

24
Q

multiplier effect

A

tendency to provide more of the preferred toys to children, thus strengthening their preference for those toys

25
Q

what evidence most directly links children’s toy play to prenatal hormones?

A

higher testosterone in utero caused girls to have more boy-type play. higher phthalates in utero caused boys to have less interest in boys’ toys.

26
Q

how quickly can changes in hormonal secretions influence sexual behavior?

A

15 minutes

27
Q

sex hormones activate sexual behavior partly by enhancing…?

A

sensations. the sensitivity to tactile stimulation from the vagina and cervix, and the penis is increased.

28
Q

erection

A

testosterone increases release of nitric oxide (NO), which increases blood flow to the penis.

29
Q

how does viagra (sildenafil) work?

A

prolongs the effects of nitric oxide

30
Q

how do testosterone & estradiol affect the hypothalamic areas responsible for sexual behavior?

A

they prime hypothalamic cells to be ready to release dopamine. they also increase sensitivity in the genital area.

31
Q

impotence

A

the inability to have an erection

32
Q

what is the explanatio for why married men tend to have lower testosterone levels than single men of the same age?

A

men w/lower testosterone levels are more likely to get married than men with higher levels

33
Q

menstrual cycle

A

periodic variation in hormones/fertility over about 28 days. produced by hypothalamus & pituitary

34
Q

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

A

released by anterior pituitary which promotes the growth of a follicle in the ovary.nurtures the ovum and produces several types of estrogen.

35
Q

lutenizing hormone (LH)

A

released by anterior pituitary toward middle of menstrual cycle. combined with FSH, causes the follicle to release an ovum

36
Q

birth control pills

A

prevent pregnancy by interfering with the feedback cycle between the ovaries and the pituitary.

37
Q

periovulatory period

A

days around the middle of the cycle is the time of maximum fertility & high estrogen levels.

38
Q

at what time in a woman’s menstrual cycle do her estradiol levels increase? when are they lowest?

A

estrogen levels increase during days leading up to the middle of the menstrual cycle. they are lowest during and just after menstruation.

39
Q

oxytocin

A

stimulates contractions of the uterus during delivery and stimulates mammary gland to release milk. prevents anxiety after orgasm. facilitates formation of bonds between mates, and between mother/infant. increases trust toward someone you already love, but not everyone.

40
Q

vasopressin

A

important for social behavior by facilitating olfactory recognition of other individuals

41
Q

what factors are responsible for maternal behavior shortly after rats give birth? what factors become more important in later days?

A

early stages of maternal behavior depends on a surge in the release of prolactin and estradiol. after exposure to the babies’ smell, hormone level drops, but learned behaviors remain.

42
Q

sexual selection

A

genes that make an individual more appealing to the other sex will increase the probability of reproduction & the next generation will resemble those who had these favorable genes

43
Q

major histocompatibility complex

A

women’s avoidance of a man of similar odor

44
Q

gender identity

A

how we identify sexually and call ourselves

45
Q

sex differences

A

biological differences between males and females

46
Q

gender differences

A

differences from people’s thinking about themselves as male or female. strictly a human characteristic.

47
Q

hermaphrodite

A

individuals who appear to be a mixture of male and female.

48
Q

congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

A

common cause of XX female to develop masculinized genitals. overdevelopment of adrenal glands from birth. (genetic limitation to produce cortisol, causes failure of pituitary since it doesn’t receive cortisol as a feedback signal and it continues to secrete other hormones, including testosterone). in females, this causes masculinization of their genitals

49
Q

intersexes

A

people whose sexual development is intermediate. 1 in 100 in US has some uncertainty; 1 in 2000 is ambiguous enough to be uncertain of male or female

50
Q

androgen insensitivity / testicular feminization

A

individuals with XY chromosome pattern who have the genital appearance of a female (producing androgen, but lack the receptors)