I had a blast in Carbondale (thank you all)!  People really responded to the time we spent thinking about how to explain concepts like arousal and orgasm.  In the anatomy lesson of the curriculum we’ve been did this summer, I have similar explanations for explaining the reproductive parts of the body.  I’m going to include the entire list here, but if the entire list is too overwhelming for your students choose 3-5 physiological parts to focus on per gender.  I would recommend reading over the full WEB MD definitions of these terms (click here for the worksheet Body Part Functions)- you may come up with better explanations!

Some general ideas I try to convey…

• Some people’s reproductive organs are mostly inside the body and some people’s are mostly outside the body.
• Reproductive organs are a system of tubes, canals, and storage centers that connect to one another.
• Reproductive organs produce genetic information and try to bring it together. 

Vulva: A part of a person’s body that is used for reproduction, urination, and pleasure. The vulva is outside the body. Every vulva looks a little bit different, but they all have folds of skin, openings into the body, and a clitoris. During puberty, the folds of skin become covered in hair.

Labia majora: Skin that protects the vulva

Labia minora: Skin that protects the opening to the vagina

Clitoris:  Skin and nerves that cause pleasure

Vagina (birth canal): The vagina is used for reproduction and pleasure. During reproduction, the job of the vagina is to connect the uterus to the outside world. When a baby is born, the vagina squeezes in a special way to help the baby out of the uterus. When being used for pleasure, the vagina can be touched to make the body feel good.

Uterus:  Where a baby grows

Ovaries: Holds the eggs (which hold genetic information)

Fallopian Tubes:  Connects the ovaries and the uterus

Penis: A part of a person’s body that is used for reproduction, urination, and pleasure. The penis is outside the body. Every penis is a little bit different but they all are shaped like tubes with a small hole at the end.

Scrotum: A tissue sack that holds the testes. During puberty it gets covered with hair.

Testicles (testes): Produces sperm (genetic information)

Epidermis: Where sperm mature

Vas deferens: Brings sperm to the urethra

Ejaculatory ducts: a connector.

Urethra: carries urine and semen out of the body

Seminal Vesicles & Prostate Gland: Produce sperm energy

Bulbourethral gland (Cowper’s glands): Produces lubricant (makes things slippery)