2026-02-12 11:16 UTC
Galen believed that the genital and reproductive organs were much the same in either sex, but went inside if they were cold during gestation, and stuck out if they were sufficiently warm during gestation.
This meant that Galen correctly identified the ovaries as homologous to the testes. However, he believed the vagina was homologous to the penis, and that the uterus itself was an internal scrotum. Which it very much isn't.
Replies (2)
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@vagina_museum@masto.ai 2026-02-12 11:19
So where does the clitoris - the organ which is *actually* homologous to the penis - factor in? Galen ultimately didn't have very much to say about it. He only mentions it once, in the context of the rest of the vulva. According to Galen, the function of the labia minora, labia majora and clitoris is... insulation. These structures exist to keep the uterus cosy and warm.
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@floppyplopper@todon.nl 2026-02-12 11:27
@vagina_museum thanks, i'm hearing internal scrotum to the tune of personal jesus by depeche mode now.