Question

What are secondary sexual characters? List the secondary sexual characters in males and females.

Answer 1

Secondary sexual characters include the development of special organs that are present in the body and it does not take part in the reproduction directly. These organs passively help in the reproduction process.

Step by step answer: Secondary sex characteristics can be defined as the featured characters that appear during puberty. It is seen in humans and other animals. These characteristics are the sexually dimorphic phenotypes that help to distinguish the sexes of a species. Secondary sex characteristics are the product of sexual selection that displays the fitness of a species, gives an advantage, and chance to an organism to be superior over its rivals in courtship, and help in aggressive interactions.
Secondary sexual characters that are present in males:
-Growth of body hair that includes the underarm, abdomen, chest and pubic hair, facial hair.
-Increment of muscle mass and strength is seen in males.
-Lower body fat than females and harshening of voice.
-Enlargement of the larynx, called Adam's apple.
Secondary sexual characters present in females:
-Enlargement of breasts in size and erection of nipples.
-Growth of body hair, also hair in the underarm and pubic region is also seen.
-Widening of hips are also seen in females.
-Deposition of fat under the skin, softening of voice.
-Labia minora, the inner vulva of the vagina, grow more prominently and undergo colour changes which is the result of higher levels of estrogen during puberty.
-The menstrual cycle starts.

Note: Secondary sex characteristics of animals as follows – the manes of male lions, the bright facial and rump coloration of male mandrills, and horns in goats and antelopes.