Female Arousal and Orgasm: Anatomy, Physiology, Behaviour and Evolution

Table of Contents

• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Ethics Statement
• Conflict of Interest Statement

• Alfred Charles Kinsey
• William Masters and Virginia Johnson
• Shere Hite
• Early Sex Researchers Summary
• What is Normal?

• Anatomical Terminology
• Anatomical Conventions
• Basic Female Reproductive Anatomy
• Developmental Overview
• Pelvis
• The Vulva, An Overview
• Vulval Dimensions
• Changes in Dimensions With Age
• Correlations With Body Mass Index (Bmi)
• Influence of Hormones
• Newborns
• Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
• Prepubertal and Pubertal Girls
• Effect of Vaginal Delivery
• Innervation of the Female Genitals
• Pudendal Nerve
• Hypogastric Nerve
• Foetal Studies
• Effector Innervation
• Sensory Innervation
• Neurotransmitters
• Nitric Oxide (No)
• Vulval Skin
• Nerve Endings in Vulval Skin
• Components of the Vulva
• The Mons Pubis (Mound of Venus, Pubic Mound, Mons Veneris, or Mons)
• Labia Majora - the Outer Lips
• Labia Minora - the Inner Lips
• Innervation of the Labia Minora
• Glands of the Labia and Adjacent Areas
• Typical Sebaceous, Scent and Sweat Glands
• Anogenital Mammary-Like Glands (Agmlgs)
• The Clitoris
• Gross Anatomy of the Clitoral Complex
• Visible Clitoris Size
• Clitoral Prepuce (Clitoral Hood)
• Glandopreputial Glands
• Clitoral Infrafrenulum
• Clitoral Body or Raphe
• The Internal Clitoral Components
• Suspensory Ligament of the Clitoris
• Crura and Bulbs
• Innervation of the Clitoris
• Changes in Clitoral Microanatomy Through the Menstrual Cycle
• The Vestibule
• Specialised Glands of Vestibule
• Bartholins Glands (The Major or Greater Vestibular Glands)
• Paraurethral Glands (The Female Prostate Homologue)
• Minor (Lesser) Vestibular Glands
• The Vagina
• Vaginal Histology
• Vaginal Innervation
• Cervico-Vaginal Fluid
• Microbiota of the Vagina and Vulva
• Vaginal Microbiota
• Vulval Microbiota
• Olfactory Cues to a Woman's Ovulation
• Vaginal Aromas
• The Cervix
• Innervation of the Cervix
• Breasts, Areolas and Nipples
• Breast Sensitivity
• Post-Menopausal Changes in Anatomy, Histology and Physiology 111
• Histology

• Introduction
• Deep Pelvic Muscles
• The Perineal Membrane
• Superficial Pelvic Muscles
• Reflexes
• Deep and Superficial Reflexive Vaginal Contractions
• Bulbospongiosus (=Bulbocavernosus) and Pudendo-Anal Reflexes
• Cavernoso-Anal Reflex
• Cervico-Motor Reflex
• Cervico-Vaginal Inhibitory Reflex
• Clitorolabial Reflex
• Clitero-Uterine Reflex
• Urethro-Corporocavernosal Reflex
• Vagino-Anorectal Reflex
• Vagino-Cavernosus Reflex
• Vagino-Tubal Reflex
• Vagino-Levator Reflex
• Vagino-Puborectalis Reflex
• Vagino-Clitoral Reflex
• Pelvic Muscle Strength and Sexual Function
• Kegel Exercises

• Introduction
• Follicular and Luteal Phases
• The Hormone Cycle
• Anatomical Genital Changes Through the Cycle
• Menstrual Cycle Phase and Women's Desire for Sex and Sexual Activity
• Arousability and the Menstrual Cycle
• Changes in Olfactory Ability

• Introduction
• Female Orgasm Models
• Masters and Johnson's Linear Model
• Excitement Phase
• Plateau Phase
• Orgasm
• Resolution
• The Kaplan Variations
• Another Linear Refinement
• A Purely Cognitive Model
• Circular Models
• Dual Control
• Model of Orgasm in the Brain
• No One Model Fits All
• Significance of These Models
• Into the Laboratory
• The Laboratory Setting
• Choice of Arousing Films or Other Stimuli
• Volunteer Bias in Sex Research
• Effects of Sex Research Participation on Subjects

• Introduction
• The Erogenous Zones
• Male Pheromones
• What Else is Arousing?
• A Mushroom?
• Measuring and Recording Arousal
• Subjective Level of Arousal
• Visible Vulval Changes During Arousal
• Clitoral Tumescence
• Clitoral Retraction/Erection
• Labia Majora Separation and Profile
• Breast, Areola Engorgement and Nipple Erection
• Measuring Physiological Arousal Objectively
• Lie Detectors, Blood Pressure, Respiration and Heart Rate
• Electroencephalography
• Laser Doppler Imaging (Ldi)
• Thermography
• Vaginal Pulse Amplitude (Vpa) and Vaginal Blood Volume (Vbv)
• Slow Oscillations of Vaginal Blood Flow
• Vaginal Blood Flow Rate
• Vaginal Blood Flow Estimation by Heat Dissipation
• Vaginal Surface Oxygen Partial Pressure
• Clitoral Engorgement and Tumescence
• Clitoral Blood Flow Measurement by Ultrasound
• Clitoral Pulse Amplitude Using Photoplethysmometry
• Labia Minora Temperature
• Labial Haemodynamics
• Vaginal and Vulval Lubrication
• Measuring Vaginal Lubrication
• Labia Minora and Vestibule Lubrication
• Pelvic Floor Muscle Activity
• Reduced Vaginal Penetration Pressure
• Other Changes During Arousal
• Engorgement of Clitoral Crura and Bulbs
• Mri Views of Internal Structures During Arousal
• Uterine Contractions
• Desynchrony and Concordance Between Physical and Subjective
• Measures of Arousal
• Effects of Fragrance on Female Arousal
• Negative Effects on Arousal
• Distraction - the Pornography Theme of 'Literary Orgasm'

• Introduction
• Rhythmic (Clonic) Contractions of the Vagina, Anus and Pelvic Floor Muscles
• Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
• Respiration
• Vaginal and Labia Surface Oxygen Partial Pressure
• Vaginal Blood Volume Drop
• Uterine Pressure Drop
• Dilation of Os Cervix
• Clitoral Hypersensitivity
• Sex Flush at Orgasm
• Areola Contraction
• Orgasm Latency
• Orgasm Duration
• Orgasm Intensity: Subjective and Measured
• Satisfaction With Orgasm (Body or Brain)
• Sexual Satisfaction Comes With Fringe (Immunological) Benefits
• Multiple Orgasms
• Multiorgasmic Women Do Not Comprise a Single Uniform Category
• Exercise, Sexual Function and Orgasm
• Resolution

• Introduction
• Oxytocin
• Prolactin
• Testosterone
• Noradrenaline
• Endocannabinoids
• Oestrogen
• Pituitary Activity and the Use of Pet

Author

• Donald Lambert Jesse Quicke