PSY 2301 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus, Secondary Sex Characteristic, Defeminization
14 Sep 2016
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Sex hormones begin to affect us before we are born and continue to affect us throughout our life. The actions of hormones during development alter tissue differentiation (sex organs and the brain) Activational effects occur later in life, after sex organs have developed: hormones activate production of sperm, make erection and ejaculation possible, induce ovulation. 3 categories of sex organs: gonads. External genitalia: gonads (testes and ovaries): produce ova or sperm, secrete hormones, Undifferentiated through the sixth week of prenatal development. A gene on y chromosome (sex-determining region y (syr)) controls development of testes. Produces a protein (testis-determining factor (also called h-y antigen) Internal sex organs: all embryos contain precursors to both male and female sex organs. Wolfian system -precursor to the internal male sex organs. M llerian system- precursor to the internal female sex organs. The gender of the internal sex organs is determined by the presence or absence of hormones secreted by the testes.
