3.13 Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Recall the roles of Oestrogen and Testosterone in the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

- This is addressing a process known as puberty which is about the conversion from child to adult. Not to be confused with adolescence (development of the brain).

- In males the hormone producing these changes is Testosterone. The endocrine gland for this hormone is the testis. Some of the effects include; increased number of produced sperm cells, growth and development of the sexual organs (penis and testis), development of body hair (pubic hair, armpit hair, facial hair), body mass will also increase (partly increase in muscle mass), voice breaking (sudden deepening of the voice), development of a sexual drive in behaviour.

-  In females the hormone producing changes is Oestrogen. The endocrine gland for this hormone is the ovary. Some of the effects include; beginning of the menstrual cycle (includes ovulation and menstrual period), development of body mass (rounding of body shape at hips), development of body hair (pubic hair, armpit hair), gradual deepening of voice (but no sudden breaking process), growth and development of sexual organs (larger breasts).

These are the effects in males and females of puberty; going from a child to a sexually mature adult.