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Related Concept Videos

External Female Genitals01:15

External Female Genitals

The vulva encompasses the external structures of the female reproductive system. At the forefront is the monpubis, a cushion of fatty tissue atop the pubic bone. Once puberty sets in, this area typically grows hair. Extending from just behind the mons pubis are the labia majora (labia = 'lips'; majora = 'larger'), which are larger skin fs olds coated with hair. Nestled within are the labia minora (labia = 'lips'; minora = 'smaller'), which are thinner, more pigmented, and hairless. While the...
Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation01:17

Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation

Sexual stimulation can take various forms, such as physical touch and visual or auditory cues. When this happens, the parasympathetic reflex in the sacral portion of the spinal cord is activated. This reflex stimulates the release of nitric oxide (NO), which then dilates the arterioles in the penis, increasing blood flow to the erectile tissues - the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
Penis01:29

Penis

The penis serves a dual role in sexual reproduction and urination. It consists of three main regions: the glans penis, the body, and the root, each with distinct functions and unique anatomical features.
Anatomy of the Penis
The glans penis, or the head, is the terminal part of the penis and houses the external urethral orifice, the exit point for urine and semen. Covered by the prepuce, or foreskin, the glans is noted for its sensitivity and plays a key role in sexual pleasure. The body of the...
Sperm Structure and Semen Composition01:22

Sperm Structure and Semen Composition

During ejaculation, males release around 2-5 milliliters of semen, which is a complex mixture of mature sperm and various fluids produced by accessory glands. The mature sperm cells measure approximately 60 micrometers in length and consist of a head, neck, midpiece, and tail. The head is flattened and tapered, measuring about 4 to 5 micrometers in length. It contains a nucleus with condensed chromosomes and an acrosome, a cap-like structure filled with enzymes essential for penetrating the...
Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
Accessory Glands of the Male Reproductive System01:16

Accessory Glands of the Male Reproductive System

The accessory ducts involved in sperm maturation and transportation include the epididymides, vasa deferentia, ejaculatory ducts, and urethra. These ducts play a critical role in the maturation, storage, and transportation of sperm from the testes to the urethra, where it is then released during ejaculation.
The epididymis is a small, comma-shaped organ located at the back of each testicle. The epididymis can be divided into three main parts: the head, body, and tail. The head of the epididymis...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Measuring Sperm Guidance and Motility within the Caenorhabditis elegans Hermaphrodite Reproductive Tract
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Measuring Sperm Guidance and Motility within the Caenorhabditis elegans Hermaphrodite Reproductive Tract

Published on: June 6, 2019

Female orgasm(s): one, two, several.

Emmanuele A Jannini1, Alberto Rubio-Casillas, Beverly Whipple

  • 1Course of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Italy. emmanuele.jannini@univaq.it

The Journal of Sexual Medicine
|April 3, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The vaginally activated orgasm (VAO) is possible, challenging the notion that only external clitoral stimulation leads to climax. Scientific evidence supports the existence of vaginal orgasms, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of female sexual response.

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Area of Science:

  • Female sexual health
  • Human sexuality research
  • Physiology of orgasm

Background:

  • Direct clitoral stimulation is widely accepted as a pathway to orgasm.
  • The possibility of achieving orgasm through vaginal penetration has been a subject of scientific debate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present scientific evidence on the existence of the vaginally activated orgasm (VAO).
  • To provide data for readers to form informed opinions on female sexual response.

Main Methods:

  • A debate format involving six scientists with diverse experimental evidence.
  • Review of anatomical, physiological, and psychological data related to female orgasm.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports the anatomical possibility and validates women's reports of the VAO.
  • Studies indicate a single orgasm pathway, achievable through various stimulation types (clitoral, vaginal, cervical).
  • Psychological factors influencing the VAO experience were also presented.

Conclusions:

  • The belief that women exclusively experience external clitoral orgasms is not supported by current scientific evidence.
  • The VAO is a scientifically plausible component of female sexual response.