There are a number of differences in the structure and functions of the organs of the body, which determine the belonging of all organisms to one sex or another. Primary and secondary sexual characteristics help to distinguish a man from a woman and a female from a male, despite the fact that they are determined by the same genes, which, under the influence of special hormones, can manifest themselves to a greater or lesser extent. Underdevelopment or pathological changes in the ovaries, as a rule, significantly weaken the action of the female hormone, which leads to the manifestation of secondary signs in men. The body of the latter,
in turn, can also show changes that are not inherent to it, and the reason for this is often the suppression of the normal functioning of the testes. From this we can conclude that the primary sexual characteristic includes the organ that is responsible for the fertilization and development of the fetus. The reproductive system in the body is one of the most important, so its he althshould be maintained as long as possible.
Primary sexual characteristics
- Penis, prostate and testicles in men.
- Vagina, uterus and ovaries in women.
Secondary signs of sexual development are observed in both women and men, but manifest themselves in varying degrees.
Signs of secondary puberty
Hair in men appears in the face, abdomen, chest, back, lower and upper limbs, as well as in the pubic area. In women, this phenomenon is observed in moderate amounts under the armpits, in the bikini area and on the legs. In addition, there are differences in the skeleton and muscles: in men, the chest and shoulders are wider, the limbs are longer, the pelvis is narrower, and the muscle and bone mass is greater. Subcutaneous tissue is more developed in the abdomen, while in women it is localized on the hips and buttocks. The vocal cords of men are thicker, the voice is rougher, and the Adam's apple is more pointed. The mammary glands, as a rule, are not developed and are not able to secrete breast milk for feeding offspring. If the primary sexual characteristics are characterized by a certain structure, then the secondary ones may have some differences in representatives of the same sex.
Features of the development of sexual characteristics
Sexual development in women and men occurs at different times: eggs, for example, are formed during the period of embryonic development, but they begin to grow only at the age of 8-12 years. Male spermatozoa are produced
testicles much later, after about 13 years. Primary sexual characteristics, along with secondary ones, are formed as a result of exposure to certain hormones: in women, these are progesterone and estrogen, which prepare the body for pregnancy, and in men, testosterone.
There are cases when one individual may have both female and male glands at the same time. This phenomenon is called hermaphroditism and occurs due to the abnormal development of the reproductive system. If the primary sexual characteristics appear early, then the secondary ones are formed during the growth of the organism. In the end, the individual reaches biological maturity, including sexual maturity, which occurs after the completion of physiological and morphological development. From this point on, the body is capable of reproducing he althy full-fledged offspring.
