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Sexual characteristics are physical traits of an organism (typically of a sexually dimorphic organism) which are indicative of or resultant from biological sexual factors. These include both primary sex characteristics, such as gonads, and secondary sex characteristics.
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In humans, sex organs or primary sexual characteristics, which are those a person is born with, can be distinguished from secondary sex characteristics, which develop later in life, usually during puberty. The development of both is controlled by sex hormones produced by the body after the initial fetal stage where the presence or absence of the Y-chromosome and/or the SRY gene determine development.
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 such as estradiol
- progestogens such as 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 estrogen and gestagens (including progesterone); low androgens (including testosterone) | high androgens (including testosterone) |
| Anatomy of internal genitalia | clitoral crura, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes | corpora cavernosa, prostate, vas deferens, seminal vesicles |
| Anatomy of external genitalia |
vulva, which includes the glans clitoridis, labia, clitoral hood and vaginal opening |
scrotum, penis, foreskin, fused perineum |
| Secondary sexual characteristics | ||
| Larger breasts, wider hips, shorter height, more 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 | |
In invertebrates and plants, hermaphrodites (which have both male and female reproductive organs either at the same time or during their life cycle) are common, and in many cases, the norm.
In other varieties of multicellular life (e.g. the fungi division, Basidiomycota), sexual characteristics can be much more complex, and may involve many more than two sexes. For details on the sexual characteristics of fungi, see: Hypha and Plasmogamy.
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]
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