Secondary sexual characteristics
Secondary Sexual Characteristics
Secondary sexual characteristics (pronunciation: /ˈsɛkəndɛri sɛkʃuəl ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪks/) are physical or behavioral traits that distinguish between males and females of a species, but are not directly involved in reproduction. They typically emerge during puberty and are influenced by hormonal changes.
Etymology
The term "secondary sexual characteristics" was first used in the late 19th century by biologist Charles Darwin. It is derived from the Latin words "secundus" meaning "second" or "following", "sexus" meaning "sex", and "characteristicus" meaning "a distinguishing quality".
In Humans
In humans, secondary sexual characteristics include traits such as the growth of facial hair and deepening of the voice in males, and the development of breasts and widening of the hips in females. These characteristics are largely influenced by the hormones testosterone and estrogen, respectively.
Related Terms
- Primary sexual characteristics: These are the physical characteristics that are directly involved in reproduction, such as the ovaries in females and the testes in males.
- Sexual dimorphism: This is the condition where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
- Puberty: This is the period in life when a person becomes sexually mature and secondary sexual characteristics develop.
See Also
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