Human Sexuality Exam 2 Vocabulary

The absence of menstruation

A hormone that promotes the development of male genitals and secondary sex characteristics. It is produced by the testes in men and by the adrenal glands in both men and women

A condition in which a genetic male’s cells are insensitive to androgens, resulting in the development of female external genitalia (but no internal reproductive organs).

Having high levels of both masculine and feminine characteristics.

A period in a man’s life, usually during his 70s or 80s, when testosterone decreases, causing a decrease in spermatogenesis, a thinner ejaculate, a decrease in ejaculatory pressure, decreased muscle strength, increased fatigue, and in some cases, mood disturbances.

Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome.

A threadlike structure in the nucleus of a cell that carries genetic information.

A disorder involving overproduction of androgen in the adrenal glands that can affect males and females. Females born with this condition frequently have masculinized genitals because of excess prenatal androgen exposure, whereas males typically experience early pubertal changes.

A nucleic acid in the shape of a double helix in which all genetic information in the organism is encoded.

Medical term referring to conditions that can lead to atypical chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sexual development.

A gland that secretes hormones into the blood.

A hormone that produces female secondary sex characteristics and affects the menstrual cycle.

The ideal cluster of traits that society attributes to females.

The union of two gametes, which occurs when a haploid sperm and a haploid egg join to produce a diploid zygote, containing 46 chromosomes.

A male or female reproductive cell—the spermatozoon or ovum; also referred to as a germ cell.