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Anatomy, Reproduction & Parenting

Adaline Padlina & Cade DeLoach, Linn County Public Health

Health 2: Anatomy, Reproduction and the Responsibilities of Parenting

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Ground Rules

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Anonymous Questions

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Anatomy of someone with a vulva

Fallopian tube

External (Vulva): the external anatomy of someone who has a vagina is called the vulva.

Labia majora- enclose and protect the rest of the external organs. After someone goes through puberty, the labia majora often starts growing hair. It also has sweat and oil glands.

Labia minora- just inside the labia majora, and is a second layer of protection for the openings to the vagina and the urethra.

Clitoris- a small, super sensitive bundle of nerves that helps the body with arousal and making sex feel good.

There are three main entrances to the inside of the body that you can see from the vulva. They are:

The Vagina- the canal that joins the lower part of the uterus to the outside of the body. This is going to be where the point of entry when talking about “vaginal sex”, and where a baby exits the body during a vaginal birth.

Everything we have mentioned so far (the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the opening to the vagina) make up what is called the vulva. These are the external genitals that can be seen on the outside of the body. Sometimes people mistakenly refer to these external genitals as the vagina, but that’s incorrect since the vagina is an internal organ.

The Urethral opening - This is the entrance the the urethra, which is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It’s separate from the vagina (ie, no one pees out of their vagina).

(Not pictured) The Anus- where feces (ie, poop) exits the body from the rectum. This is going to be the point of entry when we use the term “anal sex”.

Internal:

Ovaries: small, almond sized glands that produces eggs and hormones.

Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus.

Uterus: A hollow organ that provides a space for a fetus to develop. It’s divided into to parts: the corpus (which is the open, top part) and the cervix.

Cervix: the lower part of the uterus. It has a channel that allows sperm in and menstrual fluid out.

Vagina: as we said before, the vagina connects the cervix to the outside of the body. It’s also known as the birth canal, and is where menstrual fluids and, in the case of a birth, a baby, leave the body.

Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Female_genital_system_-_3D_view.svg

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Anatomy of someone with a penis

Penis

External anatomy:

Penis: the organ used to transport semen and urine outside of the body. It’s divided up into three parts: the root, the shaft, and the glans. The glans is sometimes covered by a loose layer of skin called the foreskin. Sometimes, though, the foreskin is removed in an operation called circumcision.

Scrotum: The pouch of skin containing the testicles that hangs down below the penis.

Internal Anatomy:

Testicles: organs that produce sperm and the sex hormone testosterone.

Seminal vesicle and prostate gland: produce fluids that provide sperm with a source of energy to help them move. These fluids make up most of the volume of a person’s ejaculate, or semen.

Urethra: tube that carries semen or urine out of the body. When a penis is erect during sex, urine is blocked from exiting. So when someone ejaculates (“cums”) they are only going to release semen, not pee. �

Anatomy of someone with a penis

External:

Penis: the organ used to transport semen and urine outside of the body. It’s divided up into three parts: the root (the part that attaches it to the body), the shaft, and the glans (the cone shaped part at the end). The glans has tons of nerve endings, so it’s very sensitive. It’s also sometimes covered by a loose layer of skin called the foreskin. Sometimes, though, the foreskin is removed in an operation called circumcision. (You can see the difference between a circumsized and uncircumsized penis in the picture.

Scrotum: The other part you can see from the outside of the body in the scrotum, a loose “sack” of skin that hangs down below the penis and contains the testicles. The scrotum has a bunch of nerves and blood vessels, and also special muscles for keeping the testicles the correct temperature (if it gets cold, it contracts to pull the testicles up closer to the body; if it’s hot, it will relax to move them farther away from the body).

I want to stress that just like vulvas, penises and scrotums come in different shapes, colors and sizes. Some scrotoms have hair, some don’t. Some penises curve, some are straight. Some are circumsized, some aren’t. Odds are, if you have a penis and scrotum, they’re normal, and if you’re worried about them not being normal or healthy, talk to your health professional.

Internal:

Testicles: organs that produce sperm and the sex hormone testosterone.

Epididymis: It transports and stores sperm cells that are produced in the testes. Sperm cells in the testes are not developed enough to fertilize an egg, so they have to develop in the epididymis.

Vas deferens: The vas deferens is a long, muscular tube that carries the mature sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.

Seminal vesicle and prostate gland: produce fluids that provides sperm with a source of energy to help them move. These fluids makes up most of the volume of a person’s ejaculate, or semen.

Urethra: tube that carries semen or urine out of the body. When a penis is erect during sex, urine is blocked from exiting. So when someone ejaculates (“cums”) they are only going to release semen, not pee.

It’s also important to note that there are people that can have a mix of or none of these reproductive parts. This is known by the general term ‘Intersex’. For example, someone might have a penis/testicles on the outside, but have ovaries and a uterus. Sometimes it isn’t obvious, people don’t ever know their intersex, or only find out because of a medical operation or because their struggling to have children. It’s important to note that in these cases, intersex people can still have healthy, happy sex lives.

Before we move on, does anyone have any questions about the anatomy of someone with a penis?

�Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Male_genital_system_-_3D_view.svg

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Intersex

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Performing Self-Examinations

According to the American Cancer Society, in the United States in 2021:

There will be about 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer
About 43,600 people will die from breast cancer.

According to Johns Hopkins:

It is estimated that there will be 8,000 to 10,000 new cases of testicular cancer each year
Testicular cancer is most common during the late 20s and early 30s, but can occur at any age
2nd most common type of cancer for 15-19 year old that have testicles.
Self exams can also help catch cysts, infections, and other conditions

Self exams help you understand the normal look and feel of your body, so if you notice something is different you can tell a doctor.

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If you menstruate, choose a time in your cycle when your breasts are least tender. Your hormone levels fluctuate each month during your menstrual cycle, which causes changes in breast tissue. Swelling begins to decrease when your period starts. It’s suggested to do the exam 2-3 days after your period ends.

There are two common ways to perform a breast self exam:

Lying down. Choose a bed or other flat surface to lie down on your back. When lying down, breast tissue spreads out, making it thinner and easier to feel.
In the shower. Lather your fingers and breasts with soap to help your fingers glide more smoothly over your skin.

When examining your breasts, some general tips to keep in mind include:

Use the pads of your fingers. Use the pads, not the very tips, of your three middle fingers for the exam. If you have difficulty feeling with your finger pads, use another part of your hand that is more sensitive, such as your palm or the backs of your fingers.
Use different pressure levels. Your goal is to feel different depths of the breast by using different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Use light pressure to feel the tissue closest to the skin, medium pressure to feel a little deeper, and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. Be sure to use each pressure level before moving on to the next spot. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse.
Take your time. Don't rush. It may take several minutes to carefully examine your breasts.
Follow a pattern. Use a methodical technique to ensure you examine your entire breast. For instance, imagine the face of a clock over your breast or the slices of a pie. Begin near your collarbone and examine that section, moving your fingers toward your nipple. Then move your fingers to the next section.

If you have a disability that makes it difficult to examine your breasts using this technique, you likely can still conduct a breast self-exam. Ask your doctor to show you ways you can examine your breasts.

Many people find lumps or changes in their breasts, since some of these are normal changes that occur at various points in the menstrual cycles. Finding a change or lump in your breast is not a reason to panic, as breasts often feel different in different places. A firm ridge along the bottom of each breast is normal, for instance. The look and feel of your breasts will also change as you age. Getting to know what’s normal for your body is important, so that anything out of the ordinary can be reported to a doctor. If you notice any of the following, report it to a doctor:

A hard lump or knot near your underarm
Changes in the way your breasts look or feel, including thickening or prominent fullness that is different from the surrounding tissue
Dimples, puckers, bulges or ridges on the skin of your breast
A recent change in a nipple to become pushed in (inverted) instead of sticking out
Redness, warmth, swelling or pain
Itching, scales, sores or rashes
Bloody nipple discharge

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-exam/about/pac-20393237

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Phase 1:

Desire (AKA Libido)

The body has a physical reaction to the brain’s thoughts about sex.

Muscle Tension
Increased Heart Rate & Breathing
Flushed Skin
Swelling in Clitioris, Vaginal Wall, Penis & Testicles
Breasts Become Fuller
Scrotum Becomes Tighter
Vaginal Lubrication & Pre-ejaculate Produced

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Desire: Desire (sometimes called libido) is where someone’s body starts reacting to their excitement and ‘want’ to have sex. If we’re using the roller coaster example, this is where a person would decide to get on the roller coaster. They’d get in the seat, put on the safety equipment, and the ride would start.�� There are a lot of different factors that go into someone’s desire. One of the big factors are hormones, which are chemical substances that act like messengers in the body. They control how cells and organs do their jobs (in this case, various sex hormones are going to control how the body responds in the ways listed on the right). While hormones play a big part in someone’s desire for sex, it’s important to note that humans aren’t solely and completely controlled by their hormones. Other factors, like stress, our values and beliefs, relationships dynamics, and whether or not we’ve gotten consent play a huge role in whether or not someone continues through the sexual response cycle. Review definition of consent with students, and ask for examples of how to ask for it.

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Phase 2:

Arousal

The body is continuing to reach for the peak of feeling good.

Phase 1 Reactions Continue
Clitoris Becomes Highly Sensitive (Sometimes Painful to Touch)
Testicals Draw Up Into Scrotum
Muscle Spasms Can Occur in Face, Hands & Feet

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Phase 3:

Orgasm

Sudden, forceful release of sexual tension.

Lots of Involuntary Muscle Contractions
Blood pressure, Heart rate & Breathing at Highest Rates
Vaginal Muscles & Uterus Contract
Muscles at Base of Penis Contract, Causing Person to Ejaculate (“Cum”)
Body Becomes Flushed

Orgasm tends to be the shortest phase of the sexual response cycle and usually only lasts a few seconds, but it’s different for everyone. Remember, the other phases of the cycle take different amounts of time for everyone, so if two people are having sex together they can reach orgasm at different times. Or, someone might never reach orgasm. Like we talked about with desire, a lot of factors beyond hormones affect someone’s ability to reach orgasm (these could include medications, stress, tiredness, etc).

Also, a friendly reminder that consent can be cancelled at any time, regardless of where someone is in the sexual response cycle. If someone wants to stop, that should be respected - even if everyone hasn’t gotten to orgasm yet. �

This is going to be where our roller coaster is slowing down, stopping, and the people are getting off the ride.

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Phase 4:

Resolution

The body returns to normal functioning.

Body Parts Return to Usual Size and Color
Breathing & Heart Rate Slow Back Down
General Sense of Wellbeing
Tiredness

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What is needed for reproduction to take place?

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Alternate Paths to Parenthood

-Intrauterine insemination (IUI): Also referred to as “artificial insemination” Healthy sperm is collected and inserted directly into the uterus when ovulating.�

-In Vitro fertilization (IVF): Eggs are harvested from a person’s ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab, where they develop into embryos.�

-Adoption and Foster parenting are other options for people wanting to have children. Adoption is the social, emotional, and legal process in which children who will not be raised by their birth parents become full and permanent legal members of another family.

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Thank You