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{{Short description|Characteristics that distinguish the sexes, primary and secondary}}
{{Short description|Characteristics that distinguish the sexes, primary and secondary}}
{{Redirect2|Genital sex|Gonadal sex|sexual characteristics in humans|Sexual differentiation in humans}}
{{Redirect|Gonadal sex|sexual characteristics in humans|Sexual differentiation in humans}}
{{redirect|Sex characteristics|the legal term|Sex characteristics (legal term)}}
{{redirect|Sex characteristics|the legal term|Sex characteristics (legal term)}}
{{More science citations needed|date=April 2023}}
{{More science citations needed|date=April 2023}}
'''Sexual characteristics''' are physical traits of an [[organism]] (typically of a sexually dimorphic organism) which are indicative of or resultant from biological [[sex|sexual]] factors. These include both [[primary sex characteristics]] and [[secondary sex characteristics]].
'''Sexual characteristics''' are physical traits of an [[organism]] (typically of a [[sexually dimorphic]] organism) which are indicative of or resultant from biological [[sex]]ual factors. These include both [[primary sex characteristics]], such as [[gonads]], and [[secondary sex characteristics]].

Primary sexual characteristics are traits other than the [[gonads]] that are required for sexual reproduction.<ref name=JuliaRichards>{{Citation |last=Richards |first=Julia E. |title=The Human Genome |date=2011 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-091865-5.00012-6 |work=The Human Genome |pages=405–452 |access-date=2023-03-19 |publisher=Elsevier |last2=Hawley |first2=R. Scott}}</ref>


== Humans ==
== Humans ==


{{Main|sex differences in humans}}
{{Main|Sex differences in humans}}


In humans, [[sex organ]]s 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 hormone]]s 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.
In humans, [[sex organ]]s 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 hormone]]s 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 and the scrotum. Female primary sex characteristics are the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, clitoris, cervix, and the ability to give birth.<ref name=JuliaRichards />
Male primary sex characteristics are the penis, the scrotum and the ability to [[ejaculation|ejaculate]] when matured. Female primary sex characteristics are the vulva, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, and the ability to give [[childbirth|birth]] and [[menstruation|menstruate]] when matured.<ref name=JuliaRichards>{{Citation |last1=Richards |first1=Julia E. |chapter=The Human Genome |date=2011 |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-091865-5.00012-6 |pages=405–452 |access-date=2023-03-19 |publisher=Elsevier |last2=Hawley |first2=R. Scott|doi=10.1016/b978-0-08-091865-5.00012-6 |isbn=978-0-12-333445-9 }}</ref>


Hormones that express sexual differentiation in humans include:
Hormones that express sexual differentiation in humans include:
* [[estrogen]]s
* [[estrogen]]s such as [[estradiol]]
* [[progesterone]]
* [[progestogen]]s such as [[progesterone]]
* [[androgen]]s such as [[testosterone]]
* [[androgen]]s such as [[testosterone]]


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| [[Sex organ|Gonad]]s
| [[Sex organ|Gonad]]s
| [[ovary|ovaries]]
| [[ovary|ovaries]]
| [[testicle|testes]]
| [[testicle]]s
|-
|-
| Levels of [[sex hormone]]s
| Levels of [[sex hormone]]s
Line 44: Line 42:
|-
|-
| [[Anatomy]] of internal [[genitalia]]
| [[Anatomy]] of internal [[genitalia]]
| [[clitoris|clitoral crura]], [[vagina]], [[uterus]], [[fallopian tube]]s
| [[Crus of clitoris|clitoral crura]], [[vagina]], [[uterus]], [[fallopian tube]]s
| [[corpus cavernosum penis|corpora cavernosa]], [[prostate]], [[vas deferens]], [[seminal vesicle]]s
| [[corpus cavernosum penis|corpora cavernosa]], [[prostate]], [[vas deferens]], [[seminal vesicle]]s
|-
|-
| [[Anatomy]] of<br/> external [[genitalia]]
| [[Anatomy]] of<br/> external [[genitalia]]
| [[clitoris|glans clitoridis]], [[labia]], [[vulva]], [[clitoral hood]]<br/> [[perineal urethra]]
| [[vulva]], which includes the [[Clitoris#Glans|glans clitoridis]], [[labia]], [[clitoral hood]]<br/> and [[vaginal opening]]
| [[glans penis]], [[scrotum]], [[penis|phallus]], [[foreskin]]<br/> fused [[perineum]]
| [[scrotum]], [[Human penis|penis]], [[foreskin]], fused [[perineum]]
|-
|-
| colspan="3" | '''''[[Secondary sexual characteristics]]'''''
| colspan="3" | '''''[[Secondary sexual characteristics]]'''''
|-
|-
|
|
| Larger [[breast]]s, wider hips, shorter height, more [[body fat]], 10 to 12% less lung capacity,<ref>{{cite journal| pmid=12773331 | doi=10.1164/rccm.200208-876OC | volume=168 | title=Sex differences in thoracic dimensions and configuration | year=2003 | journal=Am J Respir Crit Care Med | pages=305–12 |vauthors=Bellemare F, Jeanneret A, Couture J | issue=3 }}</ref> smaller heart<ref name="Glucksman">{{cite book |author=Glucksman A |year=1981 |title=Sexual Dimorphism in Human and Mammalian Biology and Pathology |publisher=Academic Press |pages=66–75}}</ref>
| Larger [[breast]]s, wider hips, shorter height, more [[body fat]], less [[Lean body mass|muscle mass]], less facial hair, less body hair, higher vocal pitch frequency, less lung capacity,<ref>{{cite journal| pmid=12773331 | doi=10.1164/rccm.200208-876OC | volume=168 | title=Sex differences in thoracic dimensions and configuration | year=2003 | journal=Am J Respir Crit Care Med | pages=305–12 |vauthors=Bellemare F, Jeanneret A, Couture J | issue=3 }}</ref> smaller heart<ref name="Glucksman">{{cite book |author=Glucksman A |year=1981 |title=Sexual Dimorphism in Human and Mammalian Biology and Pathology |publisher=Academic Press |pages=66–75}}</ref>
| [[Beard|Facial]] and [[body hair]], smaller breasts, lower drop in vocal pitch frequency, development of "triangular" body form, higher height, less body fat, narrower hips, more lung capacity
| 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,<ref>{{cite journal| pmid=12773331 | doi=10.1164/rccm.200208-876OC | volume=168 | title=Sex differences in thoracic dimensions and configuration | year=2003 | journal=Am J Respir Crit Care Med | pages=305–12 |vauthors=Bellemare F, Jeanneret A, Couture J | issue=3 }}</ref> larger heart<ref name="Glucksman"/>
|-
|-
| Both sexes
| Both sexes
| colspan="2" | Pubic hair, underarm hair
| colspan="2" | [[Pubic hair]], [[underarm hair]]
|-
|-
|}
|}
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In [[invertebrates]] and [[plants]], [[hermaphrodite]]s (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 [[invertebrates]] and [[plants]], [[hermaphrodite]]s (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]].
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 [[lion]]s, long tail feathers of male [[peafowl]], the tusks of male [[narwhal]]s, enlarged [[proboscis]]es in male [[elephant seal]]s and [[proboscis monkey]]s, the bright facial and rump coloration of male [[mandrill]]s, and horns in many [[goat]]s and [[antelope]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics |url=https://sciencing.com/primary-secondary-sexual-characteristics-8557301.html|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 18:06, 15 June 2024

"Gonadal sex" redirects here. For sexual characteristics in humans, see Sexual differentiation in humans.
"Sex characteristics" redirects here. For the legal term, see Sex characteristics (legal term).

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.

Humans

[edit]
Main article: Sex differences in humans

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:

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

Other organisms

[edit]

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]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Richards, Julia E.; Hawley, R. Scott (2011), "The Human Genome", Elsevier, pp. 405–452, doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-091865-5.00012-6, ISBN 978-0-12-333445-9, retrieved 2023-03-19 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ Bellemare F, Jeanneret A, Couture J (2003). "Sex differences in thoracic dimensions and configuration". Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 168 (3): 305–12. doi:10.1164/rccm.200208-876OC. PMID 12773331.
  3. ^ a b Glucksman A (1981). Sexual Dimorphism in Human and Mammalian Biology and Pathology. Academic Press. pp. 66–75.
  4. ^ Bellemare F, Jeanneret A, Couture J (2003). "Sex differences in thoracic dimensions and configuration". Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 168 (3): 305–12. doi:10.1164/rccm.200208-876OC. PMID 12773331.
  5. ^ "Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics". Retrieved 14 August 2020.
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