Development of Secondary Sexual Characteristics (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)

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Secondary Sexual Characteristics

  • Secondary sexual characteristics are the changes that occur during puberty
  • Their development is controlled by the release of hormones
    • Oestrogen in females
    • Testosterone in males

Female secondary sexual characteristics

Female Effects of Oestrogen
Female secondary sexual characteristics Development of breasts
Body hair grows
Menstrual cycle begins
Hips get wider

Male secondary sexual characteristics

Male Effects of Testosterone
Male secondary sexual characteristics Growth of penis and testes
Growth of facial and body hair
Muscles develop
Voice breaks
Testes start to produce sperm

  • Some changes occur in both males and females, including growth of sexual organs and growth of body hair
  • Emotional changes also occur due to the increased levels of hormones in the body
    • These include more interest in sex and increased mood swings

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Lára

Author: Lára

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.