Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Secondary Sexual Characters
- Secondary Sexual Characters in Males
- Secondary Sexual Characters in Females
- Reason for Secondary Sexual Characters
- Summary
- What’s Next?
In the previous segment of the chapter ‘Reaching the Age of Adolescence’, we learnt about the changes during puberty that are seen in adolescents irrespective of their gender. In this segment, let us learn about the development of secondary sexual characters.
How are Secondary sexual characters developed in adolescents?
The characters that are exclusive to the individual sex of a person and are not primary are called Secondary Sexual Characters. These characters are not required as a part of the reproductive system.
What are the secondary sexual characters in adolescent males?
- In boys, there is a growth of beard. It is an exclusive character of adolescent males.
- The growth of hair on the chest, under the arms, and in the pubic region are other characters.
What are the secondary sexual characters in adolescent females?
- In females, one extremely important physical change during puberty is the enlargement of breasts.
- Hair growth around the pubic region and under the arms is also seen.
What brings the Secondary sexual characters in adolescents?
- Secondary Sexual Characters are developed by the Hormones which are secreted by the gonads.
- The male gonads, testes, secrete the male sex hormone called Testosterone which is responsible for the development of the reproductive tissues and secondary sexual characters in males.