Question

What are testes and ovaries?

Answer 1

If there is the development of breast in males, it is usually due to perturbation of estrogens to androgen ratio. Removal of testes in male is called castration. It will lead to a decline in the androgen level and some secondary sexual characters fail to appear.

Complete answer:
In males, a pair of testes develop from the mesoderm of the embryo and is present in the scrotal sac located outside the abdominal cavity. Testis performs dual functions. It acts as a primary sex organ as well as an endocrine gland. The testis is composed of seminiferous tubules and interstitial or stromal tissue. The seminiferous tubules are responsible for the formation of sperms and hence fulfil the function of the primary sex organ whereas the Leydig cell or interstitial cells which are located in the space between int tubules produce a group of steroid hormones called androgens, mainly testosterone. Leydig cells also secrete testosterone under the influence of LH, secreted by the anterior pituitary.

In females, a pair of ovaries are located in the abdominal cavity. Ovary performs the functions of both primary sex and endocrine gland. An ovary on the ovum during each menstrual cycle. In addition, the ovary produces a group of steroid hormones called estrogen and Progesterone. The ovary is composed of ovarian follicles and stromal tissue. The estrogens are synthesized and secreted mainly by the growing ovarian follicles.

Note: the ovary stimulates the development of female sexual characteristics like high pitched female voice and female pattern of body hair distribution at puberty. Similarly in males, the hormone testosterone stimulates the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics such as beard, moustache and Low-pitch voice, growth spurt.