Which of the following statements about male anatomy is false?
- The foreskin is a fold of skin that covers the head of the penis.
- The skin on the scrotum can be darker than the rest of the body.
- Both testes are always the same size.
- Each male penis is different in shape, size and skin colour.
Answer: Both testes are always the same size.
It is normal for the testes to not be the same size; sometimes one testis is larger than the other or hangs lower than the other.
Which of the following is not part of the male reproductive system?
- Testes
- Vas deferens
- Prostate gland
- Fallopian tube
Answer: Fallopian tube
The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproductive system; they are the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus.
Where is sperm made?
- Penis
- Testes
- Scrotum
- Prostate gland
Answer: Testes
The testes are two small oval-shaped sex organs where sperm is produced when a boy has started puberty.
What is the sac that holds the testes called?
- Prostate
- Vas deferens
- Scrotum
- Placenta
Answer: Scrotum
The scrotum is the sac-like skin that holds the testes on the outside of the body. Sperm need to be kept at 35 degrees, a bit cooler than the rest of the body. So the scrotum stretches or tightens to keep the testes and sperm at the right temperature!
Which tube transports sperm from the testes?
- Fallopian tubes
- Vas deferens
- Urethra
- Cervix
Answer: Vas deferens
The vas deferens is a tube that carries the sperm from the testes to the prostate gland (each testis has a vas deferens for this purpose).
What is circumcision?
- The removal of the foreskin from the penis
- When a baby is not born by natural birth
- The circumference of the penis
- None of the above
Answer: The removal of the foreskin from the penis
Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin from the penis. This is usually done when the male is a baby. Some males are circumcised and some are not; the penis works the same way with or without a foreskin.
How many sperm does a male release in one ejaculation?
- 10,000
- 700,000
- 90,000,000
- 300,000,000
Answer: 300,000,000
Lots! The number of sperm released is approximately 300 million!
The size of the penis when flaccid (soft) indicates the size it will be when erect (hard).
- True
- False
Answer: False
There are lots of variations in penis size when flaccid and this can also be affected by things like temperature and stress. The size of the penis when flaccid does not indicate the size it will be when erect: smaller penises can grow a lot when erect; larger penises may not grow much bigger when erect. Whatever the size of the penis, it does not affect the ability to have sex or how good it feels.
Guys start to produce sperm when they go through puberty.
- True
- False
Answer: True
During puberty, guys will start to produce sperm and ejaculate. This means their bodies are able to reproduce.
The skin of the penis should be the same colour as the rest of the guy’s skin.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Penises come in all different colours, shapes and sizes, so there’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ penis. Some penises are short and thick, some are long and thin, some lean to one side. The penis may be darker or redder than the rest of a guy’s skin and have veins sticking out. No two penises are the same, so it’s not something to worry about. The important thing is to know what your penis looks like, and if you notice a change that concerns you, then see your doctor.
What is the average speed guys ejaculate?
- 100km per hour
- 45km per hour
- 5 km per hour
- 10km per hour
Answer: 45km per hour
That’s pretty fast! This is why it’s so important to apply a condom correctly. Remember to pinch the tip of the condom so there is no air bubble and there is room for the semen to go; otherwise the speed and pressure of the ejaculate can cause the condom to burst!
What is a wet dream?
- When you dream about swimming
- When you wet the bed
- When a guy ejaculates in his sleep
- Something that happens when you sleep on a water-bed
Answer: When a guy ejaculates in his sleep
A wet dream is when a guy ejaculates (semen comes out of his penis) whilst he is asleep. They may remember, but usually they don’t know this is happening at the time. Wet dreams start to happen around puberty and are a boy’s body getting used to its new sperm production; this will usually happen less often as a boy gets older.
What is the vulva?
- The external female genitals
- A sexually transmissible infection
- The neck of the uterus
- The name for an unfertilised egg
Answer: The external female genitals
The vulva is a term for the external female genitals, which include the outer lips (labia majora), inner lips (labia minora and clitoris.
Where is the cervix?
- In the ovaries
- At the opening of the uterus
- Part of the lining of the uterus
- At the base of the penis
Answer: At the opening of the uterus
The cervix is where the vagina and uterus meet, at the opening of the uterus.
What is menstruation?
- When the ovaries release an egg
- The shedding of the thickened uterus lining
- When a sperm and egg meet
- Something men go through during puberty
Answer: The shedding of the thickened uterus lining
The uterus lining thickens in preparation for a fertilised egg (pregnancy). If fertilisation doesn’t happen, the uterus lining comes away. This is called menstruation or a menstrual period. Menstrual fluid contains blood, cells from the uterus lining and mucus.
Where does fertilisation usually take place?
- In the vagina
- In the uterus
- In the fallopian tube
- At the cervix
Answer: In the fallopian tube
Fertilisation usually takes place in the fallopian tube; the egg then travels to the uterus for implantation.
What is the purpose of the clitoris?
- Sexual pleasure
- Produces lubrication in the vagina
- Releases hormones
- Protects the opening to the vagina
Answer: Sexual pleasure
The clitoris is the only organ in the human body with no other purpose than for sexual pleasure.
A female is born with all her eggs in the ovaries.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Unlike males, who produce millions of sperm each day, females are born with all their eggs that will last their lifetime. Each month, up to 15 eggs will start to mature in the ovaries, but only the best 1 or 2 will be released.
What is the name for the muscular tube which extends from the cervix to the outside of the female body?
- Urethra
- Vagina
- Fallopian tube
- Vas deferens
Answer: Vagina
The vagina is the stretchy tubular muscle which extends from the cervix (opening of the uterus) to the vulva (entrance to vagina).
The vagina expands and lengthens when aroused (sexually turned on).
- True
- False
Answer: True
When a man is aroused, the penis expands and becomes erect; similarly when a woman is aroused the vagina expands and lengthens – you just can’t see it! This is one of the reasons why foreplay is important during sex; arousal prepares the body for sex and can make sex feel more pleasurable for women.
What are the major sex organs that produce eggs (ova)?
- Testes
- Ovaries
- Uterus
- Cervix
Answer: Ovaries
The ovaries are the major sex organs that produce eggs. Each month the ovaries release 1 or 2 matured eggs; an egg is about the size of a dot made with a very sharp pencil. If they are not fertilised by sperm, they will break down and be expelled along with the uterus lining during a menstrual period.
What is the average length of the menstrual cycle?
- 40 days
- 36 days
- 20 days
- 28 days
Answer: 28 days
The length of the cycle is measured from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period. The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days. This can vary from woman to woman and sometimes a woman’s own cycle can be different from one to the next too. It is common for the cycle to be less regular when a girl first starts having menstrual periods.
If somebody’s ‘bits’ down there look different to someone else’s ‘bits’, they are not normal.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Everyone’s body is unique and no two people are exactly the same and that includes ‘down there’. Just as every nose is different, so is every penis, vulva, breasts and so on – all are normal. If you are concerned about whether your penis or vulva is normal, discuss this with your doctor.
Pubic hair is
- Usually coarser than other hair on the body
- Always the same colour as the hair on your head
- Always short and curly
- All of the above
Answer: Usually coarser than other hair on the body
Pubic hair grows around the vulva, the base of the penis and testes. It is normal for this hair to be thicker and coarser than other body hair. Pubic hair varies for everyone, from the colour to the texture and amount.
