Sexual characteristics
Sexual characteristics are physical traits of an
Humans
In humans,
Male primary sex characteristics are the penis, the scrotum and the ability to ejaculate when matured. Female primary sex characteristics are the vulva, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, and the ability to give birth and menstruate when matured.[1]
Hormones that express sexual differentiation in humans include:
- estrogens
- progesterone
- androgens such as testosterone
The following table lists the typical sexual characteristics in humans (even though some of these can also appear in other animals as well):
Level of definition | Female | Male |
---|---|---|
Biological levels (Sex) | ||
Sex chromosomes | XX in humans | XY in humans |
Primary sexual characteristics | ||
Gonads | ovaries | testicles |
Levels of sex hormones | high androgens (including testosterone )
|
high androgens (including testosterone )
|
genitalia
|
clitoral crura, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes | seminal vesicles
|
genitalia
|
glans clitoridis, labia, vulva, clitoral hood urethra located above the vaginal opening |
glans penis, scrotum, penis, foreskin fused perineum |
Secondary sexual characteristics
| ||
Larger body fat, less muscle mass, less facial hair, less body hair, higher vocal pitch frequency, less lung capacity,[2] smaller heart[3]
|
more facial hair, more body hair, smaller breasts, lower drop in vocal pitch frequency, development of "triangular" body form, taller height, less body fat, more muscle mass, narrower hips, more lung capacity,[4] larger heart[3] | |
Both sexes | Pubic hair, underarm hair |
Other organisms
In
In other varieties of multicellular life (e.g. the
Secondary sex characteristics in non-human animals include manes of male lions, long tail feathers of male peafowl, the tusks of male narwhals, enlarged proboscises in male elephant seals and proboscis monkeys, the bright facial and rump coloration of male mandrills, and horns in many goats and antelopes.[5]
See also
- Mammalian gestation
- Reproduction
- Sex and gender distinction
- Sexual differentiation
References
- ^ Richards, Julia E.; Hawley, R. Scott (2011), "The Human Genome", The Human Genome, Elsevier, pp. 405–452, retrieved 2023-03-19
- PMID 12773331.
- ^ a b Glucksman A (1981). Sexual Dimorphism in Human and Mammalian Biology and Pathology. Academic Press. pp. 66–75.
- PMID 12773331.
- ^ "Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics". Retrieved 14 August 2020.