Question

What is meant by ‘secondary sexual characteristics’ in humans? Explain with the help of two examples.

Answer 1

Answer:

Sexual characteristics which develop in mature boys and girls are called secondary sexual characters. These changes are controlled by hormones.

Hormones released by the reproductive organs like testes and ovaries and involved in the development of secondary sexual characteristics are called sex hormones. The two common sex hormones are testosterone and estrogen.

Answer 2

Secondary sexual characteristics

Explanation:

Reproductive maturity or puberty refers to the time when a child's body begins to change and attains the ability to reproduce. The changes are both emotional and physical. Secondary sexual characteristics are the physical changes which develop at puberty and help in distinguishing between boys and girls. Puberty occurs at the age of 11 to 15 years.

Testosterone is the male sex hormone responsible for masculine secondary sexual characteristics, while Estrogen is the female sex hormone responsible for feminine secondary sexual characteristics.

Masculine secondary sexual characteristics:

1. Growth of hair in chest, pubis and face (moustache and beard)
2. Deepening of voice.
3. Growth of penis and testes.
4. Emotional changes and Mood swings.

Feminine  secondary sexual characteristics:

1. Breast development.
2. Flaring of the hips.
3. Growth of pubic hair.
4. Onset of menstruation.
5. Emotional changes and Mood swings.