external genitals' naming conventions

[JohnPBailey]

The vulva is the female external genitalia collectively. Laymen commonly call that a vagina but that term is not accurate. 

There seems to be no formal scientific collective term for male external genitalia but slang terms including manhood and package. 

What might be a good scientific term for male external genitalia as a whole corresponding to vulva for females? 

VULVA is Latin for "covering, womb, or matrix". What single Latin word might best describe the whole of the male external parts? 

The Latin word for "rooster is "gallus". Does a bird's head with wattles not closely resemble male parts? 

[swansont]

32 minutes ago, JohnPBailey said:

What might be a good scientific term for male external genitalia as a whole corresponding to vulva for females? 

Why does there need to be? Science/medicine has managed to proceed without one.

vulva does not refer to the entire reproductive system; it’s just one part. The various parts have their own name.

[iNow]

2 hours ago, JohnPBailey said:

What might be a good scientific term for male external genitalia as a whole corresponding to vulva for females? 

Loretta 

[JohnPBailey]

5 hours ago, swansont said:

Why does there need to be? Science/medicine has managed to proceed without one.

vulva does not refer to the entire reproductive system; it’s just one part. The various parts have their own name.

I would think VULVA was adopted for females so as not to have to say, "mons veneris, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, urethra, vulva vestibule, vestibular bulbs, Bartholin's glands, Skene's glands, and vaginal opening". For the male we have to at least say, " the penis, testes and the scrotum" to name the whole shebang on the outside of the body. It would be easier to say a single word for all these parts collectively. We can say MANHOOD but that word has multiple meanings. Terms are invented for simplification of speech. 

Edited December 17, 2022 by JohnPBailey

[rickster]

Hmmm, we could try 'fascis', which is Latin for 'bundle', but it's probably too close to 'fascism' for comfort.   The diminutive 'fasciculus', 'small bundle' rhymes with 'ridiculous', so that's probably out as well

Then there's 'sarcina' (which rhymes with 'vagina', to remind us of the homologies), meaning 'package, perhaps a troublesome package'.  That certainly fits.  Or there's 'scruta', which means 'baggage, or junk', and might seem to better apply to the backside, but it's from the same root as 'scrutinize'--the 'package' is certainly scrutinized, by all and sundry...Finally, I don't think it's attested, but the form 'masculum' could be taken to mean 'the male thing': apparently, engineers use 'masculus' to refer to a 'male connector' in plumbing and electrical work.   'Masculum' would be a neuter noun, but then so is 'pudendum' (which by the way means 'the modest or shameful thing': probably not the best word in today's framework.)

Modern Greek has 'phortos', which means 'load', or 'desme', (two syllables rhyming with 'says me'), meaning 'bundle'.  

I too wonder why there isn't such a term already.  There are lots of candidates to choose from.

Edited January 10 by rickster
minor edit for clarity

[Phi for All]

On 12/17/2022 at 12:10 AM, JohnPBailey said:

I would think VULVA was adopted for females...

You're basing this argument on guesswork and personal preference? There should be good reasons why we change naming conventions.

I'm also NOT a fan of forcing scientific definitions to be simpler for the layperson. Pop-sci articles already do too much of that. We have specific terms when we want to be absolutely clear about our subject. Medical professionals know you can't refer to a woman's vulva unless you specifically mean that part of the anatomy, not the entire system.

[exchemist]

12 hours ago, rickster said:

Hmmm, we could try 'fascis', which is Latin for 'bundle', but it's probably too close to 'fascism' for comfort.   The diminutive 'fasciculus', 'small bundle' rhymes with 'ridiculous', so that's probably out as well

Then there's 'sarcina' (which rhymes with 'vagina', to remind us of the homologies), meaning 'package, perhaps a troublesome package'.  That certainly fits.  Or there's 'scruta', which means 'baggage, or junk', and might seem to better apply to the backside, but it's from the same root as 'scrutinize'--the 'package' is certainly scrutinized, by all and sundry...Finally, I don't think it's attested, but the form 'masculum' could be taken to mean 'the male thing': apparently, engineers use 'masculus' to refer to a 'male connector' in plumbing and electrical work.   'Masculum' would be a neuter noun, but then so is 'pudendum' (which by the way means 'the modest or shameful thing': probably not the best word in today's framework.)

Modern Greek has 'phortos', which means 'load', or 'desme', (two syllables rhyming with 'says me'), meaning 'bundle'.  

I too wonder why there isn't such a term already.  There are lots of candidates to choose from.

There’s always “lunchpack”, or “meat-and-two-veg”. 

[TheVat]

I personally prefer Napoleon BonyPart.