Deck 2: Female Sexual Anatomy and Physiology

Question 1

The rounded pad of fatty tissue located over the female pubic bone is called the

A) hymen.
B) mons.
C) shaft.
D) urethra.

Answer 1

mons.

Question 2

Which of the following female sex organs forms a sheath of skin at the top covering the clitoris?

A) The labia majora
B) The minor lips
C) The vagina
D) The vulva

Answer 2

The minor lips

Question 3

Another name for the clitoral hood is the

A) glans.
B) introitus.
C) labia.
D) prepuce.

Answer 3

prepuce.

Question 4

Tampons are inserted into the vagina at the

A) hymen.
B) introitus.
C) prepuce.
D) urethral opening.

Question 5

Which external female sex organ becomes hard and erect during arousal?

A) The clitoris
B) The prepuce
C) The labia minora
D) The vulva

Question 6

In some sub-Saharan African and East Asian cultures, clitoridectomies are performed

A) as a rite of passage to womanhood.
B) to make childbirth as painful and difficult as possible.
C) to prevent masturbation and the passing of sexually transmitted diseases.
D) to protect against infibulation.

Question 7

One result of clitoridectomy is to

A) ease childbirth.
B) increase fertility.
C) increase sexual pleasure.
D) reduce sexual pleasure.

Question 8

The purpose of infibulation is to

A) ensure that no intercourse will occur prior to marriage.
B) increase the sexual pleasure of men during intercourse.
C) prevent painful childbirth.
D) reduce the possibility of masturbation.

Question 9

Which statement most accurately describes the controversy that surrounds clitoridectomy and infibulation?
Some see these procedures as ____________________; others see them as ______________________.

A) an economic investment; exploitative of children
B) good health measures; physically harmful
C) important traditions with which outsiders should not interfere; representing subjugation of women
D) protective of women; harmful to children

Question 10

Involuntary contraction of the sphincter vaginae and levator ani muscles is associated with

A) endometriosis.
B) infibulation.
C) vaginismus.
D) virginity.

Question 11

Lisa is a teenager who sees the magazine ads for "women's hygiene" products and wants to know if she should douche regularly. What do sexological and medical experts advise?

A) No, douching is associated with increased risk of cancer.
B) No, douching is associated with increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
C) Yes, she should douche after each menstrual period to clean out the vagina.
D) Yes, she should douche weekly in order to reduce the likelihood of vaginal infection.

Question 12

Janice recently began menstruating. She has heard from her friends that she should not use tampons because that would make her lose her virginity. What information can you offer Janice?

A) A majority of females are born without hymens, so most likely using tampons will not be a problem.
B) If she has an imperforate hymen, she can use tampons. An annular hymen will interfere with use of tampons.
C) Most hymens have openings that will easily allow a tampon to be inserted. The presence or absence of a hymen is not an indicator of virginity.
D) The hymen protects the vagina from disease; thus she should not insert anything into the vagina. She should refrain from any vigorous activity that could rupture the hymen.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a type of hymen?

A) Annular
B) Cribriform
C) Prepuce
D) Septate

Question 14

Rose has never had intercourse, and will be getting married in 3 months. She is concerned about experiencing pain from tearing of her hymen. Of all the comments she receives from her girlfriends, the advice LEAST likely to be helpful is from

A) Angie, who tells her not to worry about the pain because her use of tampons over the years has gotten rid of the hymen.
B) Beth, who tells her that she may want to spend some time prior to having intercourse inserting her fingers into the opening of the hymen.
C) Cari, who tells her that she could always get her doctor to cut the hymen or stretch it with dilators.
D) Dorle, who tells her that she should both encourage her husband to be careful and gentle. and take responsibility for guiding her husband's penis and controlling the timing and depth of penetration.

Question 15

In conducting a genital self-examination, which of the following should NOT, by itself, be of concern to a woman?

A) A change in odor or consistency of vaginal discharge
B) An itchy rash around the vagina
C) Unusual or new bumps, sores, or blisters
D) Vaginal discharge

Question 16

All of the following are sex-related risk factors associated with cervical cancer EXCEPT

A) a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or a sexually transmitted disease.
B) a parent or close relative having cancer.
C) having 10 or more sex partners or a partner who has had multiple partners.
D) very early initiation of sexual intercourse.

Question 17

The cervix is part of the

A) fimbriae.
B) ovary.
C) uterus.
D) vagina.

Question 18

The layer of the uterine wall that plays an important role in the menstrual cycle is the

A) endometrium.
B) isthmus.
C) myometrium.
D) perimetrium.

Question 19

The Pap smear is used to detect

A) cervical cancer.
B) endometriosis.
C) sexually transmitted disease.
D) vaginismus.

Question 20

Which one of the following statements about the ovaries is NOT accurate?

A) At birth, ovaries contain thousands of follicles, but only 400-500 mature ova are produced.
B) Inside each follicle is an oocyte.
C) The core area of the ovary is called the cortex.
D) The ovaries secrete both estrogen and progesterone.

Question 21

Where does fertilization usually take place?

A) At the cervical os
B) Near the fimbriae
C) Within the fallopian tube
D) Within the fundus

Question 22

The hairlike projections that help move the ovum through the fallopian tubes are called

A) cilia.
B) fimbriae.
C) mylin.
D) os.

Question 23

The condition called fibrous hymen can often cause

A) cervical cancer.
B) cystitis.
C) dyspareunia.
D) vaginal atrophy.

Question 24

Karen is having difficulty breast-feeding her newborn infant. She appears to be producing lots of milk, but the milk is not being released or ejected from the breast. A physician may measure Karen's level of production of which hormone?

A) Luteinizing hormone
B) Oxytocin
C) Prolactin
D) Testosterone

Question 25

About one-third of breast cancers that develop before age 30 appear to result from

A) childhood trauma to the breast tissue.
B) inadequate hygiene.
C) inherited genetic mutation.
D) sexual activity that begins in early adolescence.

Question 26

To determine if she has the beginnings of breast cancer, Maria would undergo which procedure?

A) ELISA test
B) HRT
C) Mammography
D) Pap smear

Question 27

Gina was diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery has been recommended in which her left breast will be removed in a procedure called

A) infibulation.
B) lumpectomy.
C) mammography.
D) mastectomy.

Question 28

Which one of the following organs is NOT involved in regulating the menstrual cycle?

A) The clitoris
B) The hypothalamus
C) The ovaries
D) The pituitary gland

Question 29

Which organ produces the hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone?

A) The adrenal glands
B) The hypothalamus
C) The pituitary gland
D) The uterus

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a process characteristic of the follicular phase?

A) Estrogen causes the endometrium to thicken.
B) FSH results in the maturation of one or more ova.
C) Production of FSH is inversely proportional to the bloodstream estrogen level.
D) Production of LH by the pituitary decreases.

Question 31

Which hormone is critical in the actual release or rupturing of a mature ovum from the ovary?

A) Estrogen
B) Follicular stimulating hormone
C) Gonadotropin releasing hormone
D) Luteinizing hormone

Question 32

Which of the following substances is NOT contained in the menstrual flow?

A) A few ounces of blood
B) Endometrial cells from the uterus
C) Smegma
D) Various fluids

Question 33

Helen visits her gynecologist because of severe pain during menstruation. In other words, Helen suffers from

A) amenorrhea.
B) dysmenorrhea
C) phimosis.
D) premenstrual syndrome.

Question 34

Over-the-counter drugs that claim to reduce the symptoms of PMS act by

A) counteracting the effects of prostaglandin.
B) decreasing the impact of FSH on the ovaries.
C) facilitating the release of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary.
D) increasing progesterone levels in the blood.

Question 35

Estrogen replacement therapy was first popularized as a way to

A) maintain a keen mind and a sharp memory.
B) reduce the risk of heart disease and bone loss.
C) reduce the risk of uterine and breast cancer.
D) stay youthful and feminine.

Question 36

Anna has been diagnosed as having osteoporosis. Which of the following is NOT likely to be recommended to reduce further bone loss?

A) Calcium supplements
B) Increased exercise
C) Injections of FSH and LH
D) Vitamin D

Question 37

Research on HRT shows all of the following effects EXCEPT

A) decrease in menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
B) lower rates of breast cancer.
C) more heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.
D) reduced rate of hip fractures and colon cancer.

Question 38

As Victoria enters menopause, she is considering whether to begin HRT. What advice would you? offer to her

A) Benefits of taking estrogen alone are substantial.
B) HRT is essential if she wants to continue sexual activity.
C) She should carefully weigh the potential risks of HRT against the benefits.
D) Women's health and quality of life are likely to increase with HRT.

Question 39

According to recent research, how are sexual interest and desire affected by menopause?

A) For virtually all women, freedom from pregnancy increases sexual interest markedly.
B) There is often a change, either an increase or a decrease, in sexual interest and desire, but it is temporary.
C) Unless HRT is begun, sexual interest and desire decline markedly.
D) Women are genetically programmed to lose interest in sex as soon as their reproductive abilities end.

Question 40

A common problem that is associated with pain in the vulvovaginal area and may interfere with sexual activity is ____________________.

Question 41

The two inner folds of skin that join above the clitoris and extend along the sides of the vaginal and urethral openings are called the ____________________.

Question 42

The most sexually sensitive female sex organ is the _____________________.

Question 43

Body oil mixed with other secretions that forms a substance that may accumulate beneath the prepuce is called ____________________.

Question 44

The most common type of hymen is _____________________.

Question 45

The muscular tube in the female important for reproduction and sexual pleasure is called the _____________________.

Question 46

The os is the opening in the _____________________.

Question 47

The layer of the uterine wall that is rich in blood vessels and glands is the _____________________.

Question 48

The fingerlike projections at the open end of each fallopian tube are called the _____________________.

Question 49

A rare, chronic bladder inflammation in women that can cause debilitating discomfort and interfere with sexual enjoyment is called _____________________.

Question 50

Research indicates that there is no doubt that use of mammography reduces the overall number of deaths from breast cancer.

Question 51

The external female sexual organs are called the clitoris and vagina.

Question 52

During sexual arousal, the clitoris hardens and becomes erect.

Question 53

When it is not aroused, the vagina assumes a flexible tubelike shape.

Question 54

One muscle that has a role in female orgasmic response is the pubococcygeus (or PC) muscle.

Question 55

Because the muscular walls of the vagina are normally contracted except when something is inserted into the cavity, it is possible for the vaginal muscles to contract during intercourse to the extent that the penis can momentarily become trapped.

Question 56

The second most common cancer among women is found in the vagina.

Question 57

In a pelvic exam, a sample of cells from the fundus of the uterus is taken.

Question 58

Pap smears can detect two stages of cervical cancer.

Question 59

The outgrowth of uterine lining into organs surrounding the uterus is called endometriosis.

Question 60

At the time of birth, females have 400 to 500 mature ova in their ovaries.

Question 61

Prolactin and oxytocin are critical hormones for successful breast-feeding.

Question 62

The pituitary gland stimulates other glands to produce hormones when it is stimulated by a signal from the hypothalamus.

Question 63

Describe the process of female erection.

Question 64

Why do so many individuals oppose clitoridectomy and infibulation?

Question 65

Why is douching a potentially harmful procedure?

Question 66

Can visual inspection of the introitus reveal whether a woman has had intercourse or not?

Question 67

Describe the function of the endometrium of the uterus.

Question 68

Explain the role of the fallopian tubes in reproduction.

Question 69

Describe polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Question 70

Summarize the findings of recent research on the genetic bases of certain types of breast cancer.

Question 71

Explain the role of the hypothalamus in the menstrual cycle.

Question 72

What is the difference between PMS and PMDD?

Question 73

List and describe three uterine disorders besides cancer.

Question 74

Lisa's HMO stresses the importance of having annual Pap smears performed. Why?

Question 75

How would you explain the process of breast self-examination to a young woman?

Question 76

Your middle-aged friend, Beth, is fearful about the physical and psychological effects of menopause. What factual information can you offer her to separate truth from fiction?