Female Arousal and Orgasm: Anatomy, Physiology, Behaviour and Evolution is the first comprehensive and accessible work on all aspects of human female sexual desire, arousal and orgasm. The book attempts to answer basic questions about the female orgasm and questions contradictory information on the topic. The book starts with a summary of important early research on human sex before providing detailed descriptions of female sexual anatomy, histology and neuromuscular biology. It concludes with a discussion of the high heritability of female orgasmicity and evidence for and against female orgasm providing an evolutionary advantage.
The author has attempted to gather as much information on the subject as possible, including medical images, anonymized survey data and previously unreported trends. The groundbreaking book gives a scientific perspective on sexual arousal in women, and helps to uncover information gaps about this fascinating yet complex phenomenon.
The author has attempted to gather as much information on the subject as possible, including medical images, anonymized survey data and previously unreported trends. The groundbreaking book gives a scientific perspective on sexual arousal in women, and helps to uncover information gaps about this fascinating yet complex phenomenon.
Readership
Biologists, general readers, psychologistsTable 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
