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23: Reproductive Systems

  • Page ID
    63516

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    Note

    This chapter is focused on the anatomy of the reproductive systems. A person with two X chromosomes (XX) will typically have ovaries for gonads and is genotypically classified as female. A person with one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY) will typically have testes for gonads and is genotypically classified as male. These two typical presentations are essentially opposite ends of a genotypic scale and differences in many genes and in epigenetics result in reproductive anatomy between these two poles.  Sexual genotype and anatomy is not necessarily linked to gender identity or to sexuality. 

    In this chapter and in chapter 24, we will use the phrases "male", "XY", and "an individual with testes" to describe the anatomy of an individual with testes that may make sperm and who had Wolffian duct development. We will use the phrases "female", "XX", and "an individual with ovaries" to describe the anatomy of an individual with ovaries that may make ova (eggs) and who had Müllerian duct development.


    This page titled 23: Reproductive Systems is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Lange et al..

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