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Encyclopedia > Coitus
A pair of lions copulating in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. A lion couple may copulate up to 40 times a day during their "honeymoon" period
A pair of lions copulating in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. A lion couple may copulate up to 40 times a day during their "honeymoon" period

Sexual intercourse is the act of inserting the erect penis of the male into the vagina of the female for reproduction and/or for sexual enjoyment. This image (C) User:Pcb21, 2004. ... This image (C) User:Pcb21, 2004. ... An uncircumcised penis in both flaccid and fully erect states. ... The penis (plural penises or penes) or phallus is the external male copulatory organ, and, in mammals, the external male organ of urination. ... Male is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces sperm. ... Human female internal reproductive anatomy The vagina (from the Latin for sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female mammals, or to the cloaca in female birds and some reptiles. ... Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces egg cells. ... Reproduction is perhaps most commonly used in the context of biological reproduction and sex: Sexual reproduction is a biological process by which organisms create descendants through the combination of genetic material. ...


The terms "sexual intercourse", "making love", "having sex" and "coitus" are used in reference to people. The term for the higher vertebrates (e.g. the lions in the picture to the right) and some other animals is "copulation". Many higher vertebrates animals (reptiles, most birds, certain fish) reproduce internally, but their fertilization is cloacal. Other animals, such as catfish and most amphibians reproduce sexually but rely on external fertilization rather than copulation. Typical classes Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Placodermi - extinct Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii - extinct Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) Amphibia (amphibians) Reptilia (reptiles) Aves (birds) Mammalia (mammals) Vertebrata is a subphylum of chordates, specifically, those with backbones or spinal columns. ... Binomial name Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) The Lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... In zoological anatomy, a cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and genital tracts of certain animal species. ... Families Akysidae Amblycipitidae Amphiliidae Ariidae Aspredinidae Astroblepidae Auchenipteridae Bagridae Callichthyidae Cetopsidae Chacidae Clariidae Claroteidae Cranoglanididae Diplomystidae Doradidae Hypophthalmidae Ictaluridae Lacantuniidae Loricariidae Malapteruridae Mochokidae Nematogenyidae Pangasiidae Parakysidae Pimelodidae Plotosidae Schilbeidae Scoloplacidae Siluridae Sisoridae Trichomycteridae Catfish (order Siluriformes) are a diverse group of fish. ... Orders Subclass Labyrinthodontia - extinct Subclass Lepospondyli - extinct Subclass Lissamphibia   Anura   Caudata   Gymnophiona Amphibians (class Amphibia) are a group of animals that include all tetrapods (four-legged vertebrates) that do not have amniotic eggs. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...


In a wider context, the term "sexual intercourse" may refer to a wider range of sexual activities than the act of coitus alone; see human sexual behavior for a discussion of this broader sense. This article focuses on heterosexual intercourse, wherein a penis enters the vagina. Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse), spiritual transcendence, and/or to the enjoyment of any activity involving sexual gratification. ... Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ... The word intercourse in its broadest sense refers to any kind of human communication and interaction. ...

Contents


The act

The missionary position is one popular position for sexual intercourse
The missionary position is one popular position for sexual intercourse
The cowgirl sex position is a good position for kissing, caressing, and embracing of the paramour
Enlarge
The cowgirl sex position is a good position for kissing, caressing, and embracing of the paramour

Sexual intercourse is extremely enjoyable, and usually preceded by foreplay which leads to sexual arousal of the partners, resulting in erection of the penis and natural lubrication of the vagina. The erect penis is inserted into the vagina and one or both of the partners move back and forth to stimulate themselves and each other usually to the point of ejaculation and orgasm. A detailed description of the physiology of sexual arousal and orgasm can be found in the article Human sexual response cycle. Download high resolution version (1476x1719, 172 KB)Created by User:Rama, cleaned up by User:Aris Katsaris. ... Download high resolution version (1476x1719, 172 KB)Created by User:Rama, cleaned up by User:Aris Katsaris. ... The missionary position is probably the most well-known human sex position. ... Artwork by Rama . ... Artwork by Rama . ... The Woman on top position, also called the reverse missionary, amazon, or cowgirl, is a type of sex position. ... In human sexual behavior, foreplay is physical intimacy at the beginning of a sexual encounter that serves to build up sexual arousal, sometimes in preparation for sexual intercourse or another act meant to bring about orgasm. ... Sexual arousal is the process and state of an animal being ready for sexual intercourse. ... The penis (plural penises or penes) or phallus is the external male copulatory organ, and, in mammals, the external male organ of urination. ... Human female internal reproductive anatomy The vagina (from the Latin for sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female mammals, or to the cloaca in female birds and some reptiles. ... Illustration of the human male anatomy. ... Ecstasy of St Theresa by Bernini has been compared [1] to an expression of sexual delight An orgasm, also known as a sexual climax, is a pleasurable psychological or emotional response to prolonged sexual stimulation. ... During the 1950s and 1960s, William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson conducted many important studies within the field of human sexuality. ...


Positions

Main article: List of sex positions This is a list of sex positions. ...


Sexual intercourse may be performed in a wide variety of positions, the most common ones being: This is a list of sex positions. ...

  • The woman lying on her back, the man on top and facing her ("missionary position")
  • The woman on hands and knees, the man kneeling behind her ("doggy style" or in Latin coitus more ferarum "sex in the manner of beasts")
  • The man on his back or sitting, the woman kneeling or squatting on top (slang "cowgirl" if the woman faces the man or "reverse cowgirl if the woman faces away from him)
  • Both partners lying on their sides, the man entering from the front ("side-by-side position")
  • Both partners lying on their sides, the man entering from behind ("spooning")

Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Image of a man on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space A man is a male human adult, in contrast to an adult female, which is a woman. ... The missionary position is probably the most well-known human sex position. ... The doggy position (also known as kitty style, in Latin as coitus more ferarum (sex in the manner of a beast), in the French language as levrette (greyhound bitch), in the Italian language as pecorina (little sheep), and commonly referred to as doggy style) is a popular sex position. ... The Woman on top position, also called the reverse missionary, amazon, or cowgirl, is a type of sex position. ... In the reverse Amazon or reverse cowgirl sex position, the man lies on his back the woman sits on top of him facing away from him, with his legs between her legs, and with her groin aligned over his to facilitate penetration. ... The spoons position (also spoon position, spooning) is a popular sexual position. ...

Biology of conception

Coitus is the basic reproductive method of Homo sapiens as of all mammals. During ejaculation, which normally accompanies the male orgasm, a series of muscular contractions delivers semen containing male gametes known as sperm cells or spermatozoa into the vault of the vagina. The subsequent route of the sperm from the vault of the vagina, is through the cervix and into the uterus, and thence into the fallopian tubes. Sperm cells can survive up to nine days in the female body. When a fertile ovum from the female is present in the fallopian tubes, the male gamete joins with the ovum resulting in fertilization and the formation of a new embryo. When a fertilized ovum reaches the uterus, it becomes implanted in the lining of the uterus known as endometrium and a pregnancy begins. A pair of lions having sexual intercourse in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. ... Human beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. ... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands... Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ... Gametes (in Greek: γαμέτες) —also known as sex cells, germ cells, or spores—are the specialized cells that come together during fertilization (conception) in organisms that reproduce sexually. ... Schematic diagram of a sperm cell, showing the (1) acrosome, (2) cell membrane, (3) nucleus, (4) mitochondria, and (5) flagellum (tail) A sperm cell, or spermatozoon ( spermatozoa) (in Greek: sperm = semen and zoon = alive), is the haploid cell that is the male gamete. ... Female internal reproductive anatomy The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ... Female internal reproductive anatomy The Fallopian tubes or oviducts are two very fine tubes leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus. ... A human ovum An ovum (also oocyte, ovocyte, or loosely, egg or egg cell) is a female sex cell or gamete. ... Categories: Biology stubs ... Embryos (and one tadpole) of the wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa you beezie). ... The endometrium is the uterine membrane in mammals which is thickened in preparation for fertilization, and into which a fertilized egg is implanted upon its arrival into the uterus. ... A pregnant woman Human pregnancy refers to the process by which a human female carries a live offspring from conception until childbirth. ...


Sexual intercourse should always be considered likely to result in pregnancy unless adequate contraceptive (birth control) measures are in force. Even then, pregnancy should be considered a possible outcome of the activity since no birth control measure is 100% effective. Coitus interruptus, or "withdrawal" of the penis from the vagina just before the man’s orgasm, cannot be considered an effective method of contraception and is not recommended. Abstinence from heterosexual sexual intercourse is the only 100% effective way to avoid pregnancy. Outercourse, in which there is sexual activity without insertion, can be performed without resulting in pregnancy provided that semen does not come in contact with the vulva. Birth control generally refers to any plan or method used to alter or avoid the bodys natural state of fertility, thereby preventing or reducing the probability of pregnancy without abstaining from sexual intercourse; the term is also sometimes used to include abortion and natural family planning. ... Coitus interruptus, also commonly called the withdrawal method, the natural method, pull and pray, belly shot, or pulling out is an unreliable method of contraception in which, during sexual intercourse, the man removes his penis from the womans vagina just before he reaches orgasm. ... Sexual abstinence or chastity is the practice of voluntarily refraining from sexual intercourse and (usually) other sexual activity. ... Outercourse is sexual activity that does not involve penetration. ...


Problems of intercourse

Many males suffer from erectile dysfunction, or impotence, at least occasionally. Some men also have dysfunction with orgasm in intercourse, called anorgasmia. Anorgasmia is much more common in women, however, and usually needs attention from both partners over a long time span to solve. Many women, especially younger women and women with relatively little sexual experience, experience difficulty achieving orgasm or may be unable to achieve orgasm. Whether women consider anorgasmia a problem or not is highly individual; the popular but dubious conception that both partners always achieve orgasm in "normal" intercourse may contribute to a woman's concern over anorgasmia. Vaginismus is involuntary tensing of the pelvic floor musculature, making coitus distressing or impossible. Dyspareunia is painful or uncomfortable intercourse; it can be due to a variety of reasons. Impotence or, more clinically, erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse regardless of the capability of ejaculation. ... Anorgasmia is a form of sexual dysfunction, sometimes classified as a psychiatric disorder, where the patient cannot achieve orgasm, even with adequate stimulation. ... Ecstasy of St Theresa by Bernini has been compared [1] to an expression of sexual delight An orgasm, also known as a sexual climax, is a pleasurable psychological or emotional response to prolonged sexual stimulation. ... In medicine, vaginismus is a condition where the muscles at the entrance to vagina contract, preventing successful sexual intercourse. ... Dyspareunia is painful sexual intercourse, due to medical or psychological causes. ...


Sexually transmitted diseases

Main article: sexually transmitted diseases Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ...


Sexual intercourse, like other sexual activities that involve the possibility of transfer of body fluids, is also a means of propagating sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is uninfected. For persons whose sexual behaviors place them at risk for STDs, correct and consistent use of the male latex condom can reduce the risk of STD transmission."[1] Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. ... A condom is a device, usually made of latex, that covers a mans penis during sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. They are also known as prophylactics, as well as a number of colloquial or slang terms, such...


Morality and legality

Various laws, moral rules and taboos surround sexual intercourse. See sexual morality for a detailed discussion. A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. ... Sexual morality refers to the beliefs and practices by which a culture, group, faith, etc. ...


Unlike some other sexual activities, sexual intercourse itself has rarely been made taboo on religious grounds or by government authorities. It is believed that all of the cultures that prohibited sexual intercourse entirely no longer exist, save the Shakers, a sect of Christianity which has very few adherents. Within some ideologies, coitus has been considered the only "acceptable" sexual activity. Relatively strict designations of "appropriate" and "inappropriate" sexual intercourse have been almost universal in human societies. These have included prohibitions against specific positions, against intercourse among partners who are not married (this is called fornication) or are married, but not to each other (called adultery), against sexual intercourse with a close relative (called incest), and against intercourse during a woman’s menstrual period. A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. ... Shakers near Lebanon, New York The Shakers are an offshoot of the Religious Society of Friends (or Quakers) that originated in Manchester, England in the early 18th century. ... This is a list of sex positions. ... Marriage is a relationship and bond, most commonly between a man and a woman, that plays a key role in the definition of many families. ... Fornication refers disapprovingly to any sexual activity outside of the confines of marriage, obviously including pre-marital sex. ... Adultery is generally defined as consensual sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their lawful spouse. ... Incest among humans is sexual activity between close family members. ... The phrase menstrual cycle ( or period) refers to the recurring physiological changes in a females body that are under the control of the reproductive hormone system and necessary for reproduction. ...


Most countries have age of consent laws specifying the minimum legal age for engaging in sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse with a person against his or her will, or without their informed legal consent, is called rape and is considered a serious crime in most cultures. In criminal law, the age of consent is the age at which a person is considered to be capable of legally giving informed consent to sexual acts with another person. ... Informed consent is a legal condition whereby a person can be said to have given consent based upon a full appreciation and understanding of the facts and implications of any actions, with the individual being in possession of all of his faculties (not mentally retarded or mentally ill), and his...


Miscellaneous

The English-language profanity fuck literally means copulate but is also used in several other senses. Profanity is a word choice or usage which its audience considers to be offensive. ... Fuck is among the strongest, most controversial expletives in the modern English language and probably the most well-known vulgarism in the world. ...


There is an urban legend that dolphins, bonobos, and humans are the only animals that have sex for pleasure; in actual fact, what distinguishes these three species from other animals is that they also have heterosexual sex when the female is not at a point in her gestation cycle suitable for successful impregnation [2]. Urban legends are a kind of folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ... Genera See article below. ... Binomial name Pan paniscus Schwarz, 1929 The Bonobo (Pan paniscus), sometimes called the Pygmy Chimpanzee, is one of the two species comprising the genus Pan; both members of that genus are technically chimpanzees, though the term is frequently used to refer only to the other member of the genus, Pan...


There is a good deal of controversy about the kind of relationship one should have with someone else before engaging in sexual intercourse. This controversy is beyond the scope of this article; interested readers are encouraged to read the articles on chastity, evolutionary psychology, and sexual morality. Sexual abstinence or chastity is the practice of voluntarily refraining from sexual intercourse and (usually) other sexual activity. ... Evolutionary psychology (or EP) proposes that human and primate cognition and behavior could be better understood by examining them in light of human and primate evolutionary history. ... Sexual morality refers to the beliefs and practices by which a culture, group, faith, etc. ...


See also

This is a list of sex positions. ... Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse), spiritual transcendence, and/or to the enjoyment of any activity involving sexual gratification. ... Roman men having anal sex. ... Oral sex consists of all those sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, tongue, etc. ... Reproduction is perhaps most commonly used in the context of biological reproduction and sex: Sexual reproduction is a biological process by which organisms create descendants through the combination of genetic material. ... Sexology is the systematic study of human sexuality. ... Sexual arousal is the process and state of an animal being ready for sexual intercourse. ... During the 1950s and 1960s, William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson conducted many important studies within the field of human sexuality. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Coitus definition - Medical Dictionary definitions of popular medical terms (310 words)
Coitus: Sexual union of a male and a female; also called sexual intercourse.
Coitus begins when the male inserts his erect penis into the female vagina, a canal leading to the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes along the sides of the womb.
A related term, "coitus interruptus," refers to withdrawal of the penis from the vagina before ejaculation occurs.
Definition of coitus - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (39 words)
Learn more about "coitus" and related topics at Britannica.com
Find more about "coitus" instantly with Live Search
See a map of "coitus" in the Visual Thesaurus
  More results at FactBites »


 

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