UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 1

THE
BIOLOGICAL
SELF
THE SEXUAL SEX
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Describe the beginnings of the biological sex during the time of

fertilization
Explain the process of sexual development that occurs during the
prenatal stage and during puberty stage and
Discuss abnormalities that can occur in the sexual development
The Beginning of Our Biological Sex 1
Our Biological Sex begins with the sex chromosomes that we inherit from
our parents during the time of fertilization, that is the fusion of the sex
cells of our parents. These sex chromosomes are so called, because they
genitically program the organism to develop either along a female or
male line. The mother's egg cells typically carry an X chromosome while
the father's sperm cells are split into two - half have has X chromosomes
while the other half have has Y chromosomes.
If the sperm with an X chromosome fertilizes the egg cell first, then the
resulting XX pair of sex chromosomes produces a girl. However, if the
one with a Y chromosome successfully unites with the egg cell, then the
XY pair produces a boy. It should be noted though that the X and Y
chromosomes are not named after their shape but to indicate the
difference in their appearance. X chromosomes are bigger than Y
chromosomes that on earlier investigation appeared to lack a small arm.
 2
While this earliest event that happened in our lives when we were yet a zygote, or single-cell
organism, assigned us to a particular sex, it did not lead to an automatic divergence of sexual
development in boys and in girls. In fact, sex is initially undifferentiated in the embryo up until a
certain time. Most importantly, sexual development basically follows a natural principle that
genitically programmed all human beings to develop bodies (Freberg, In the case of there was an
interference in the course that led them to develop male bodies, otherwise they could have
developed female bodies.

There are important stages that distinctly defined the development of our Biological
sex first, during the prenatal stage when the gonads, internal organs and external
genitalia are formed and then, in the pubertal stage when the secondary sex
characteristics developed.
 SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT 3

PRENATAL STAGE

PUBERTAL STAGE
PRENATAL STAGE 4
Gonads
At 6 weeks after fertilization, regardless of gender, all embryos have identical
primordial gonads (meaning "existing at the beginning) (Pinel, 2014). The
identical pair of gonadal structures consists of an outer covering, or cortex that
has the potential to become an ovary and an inner core, or medulla, that can
potentially become a testis. (See Figure I- Earliest sexual development) At about 6
weeks after conception, the SRY gene (so named because it is found in the sex-
determining region of the Y chromosomes of the male embryos) triggers the
synthesis of SRY protein (Arnold,2004). This protein causes the internal part, or the
medulla, of each gonads to grow and develop into testes. In female embryos that
lack the SRY gene that encoders the SRY protein, the primordial gonads
automatically develop into ovaries.
 Earliest sex
5
development
 6
Internal Organs
Until about the third month of prenatal development, both embryos possess the same reproductive ducts,
including a male Wolffian and a female Mullerian system (Freberg, 2010). The Wolffian system has the
potential to develop into the male reproductive ducts comprising the epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory
duct, and seminal vesicles (Witchel & Lee, 2014). The Mullerian system on the other hand, has the
capacity to form into the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the upper portion of the vagina (Goodman,2009).
This duplication in the reproductive ducts of the male and female embryos soon charges when at the third
month,the male’s newly developed testess begin to secrete two hormones: the testosterone and anti-
Mullerian hormones (Freberg, 2010). The testosterone, the most common type of androgen hormone,
stimulates the Wolffian system while the anti-Mullerian hormones inhibits the development of the
Mullerian system. Unlike the male testes that become activated and began releasing hormones, the female
ovaries are almost entirely inactive during fetal development. The differentiation of the female internal
ducts does not require any hormone at all. Normal female fetuses and even those ovariectomized female
fetuses (those whose ovaries have been removed) all develop in the typical female direction.
 7
External Organs
At 6 weeks after fertilization, the external reproductive organs for both males and
females-begin to differentiate from initially the same 4 parts:

GLANS - develops into the head of the penis in the male or clitoris in the female
URETHRAL FOLDS - fuse in the male while become enlarged as the labia minora
in the female
LATERAL BODIES - for the shaft of the penis in the male or the hood of clitoris in
the female
LABIOSCROTAL SWELLINGS - form the scrotum in the male or the labia majora
in the female
 Pubertal Stage 8
SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS
The anterior pituitary releases high growth hormone levels that act directly
on the bones and muscle tissues, resulting in a growth spurt (Pinel, 2014).
The hypothalamus releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
that stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release two gonadotropic
hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) & luteinizing hormone (LH)
In males, FSH and LH cause the testes to release testosterone;
In females, they stimulate the ovaries to produce estradiol (the most
common type of estrogen).
The testes also produce estradiol in low amounts; similarly, the ovaries
release androgens, including testosterone, in small amounts.
The higher the levels of androgen than estrogen, the more masculinization
occurs
The more abundant amount of estrogen than androgen results in
feminization.
 ABNORMALITIES 9
ANDROGEN INSENSITIVITY SYNDROME (AIS)
Individuals with AIS have an XY genotype but develop a female
appearance.
In the case of AIS, there is a mutation in the androgen receptors
such that they become unresponsive, or it is as if no androgens are
released.
because the anti-Mullerian hormone usually function the internal female
reproductive system does not also fully develop resulting to a shallow
vagina, with no uterus,fallopian tubes and ovaries
 ABNORMALITIES 10

ANDROGENITAL SYNDROME
due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a heritable
conditionwith increased level of androgens
develop ambiguous external genitalia such as an enlarged clitoris
and fused labia and, in some cases, no vaginal opening.
Behavior is also affected, in which they display tomboyishness,
engage more in male-related activities, and are more likely to
engage in bisexual and lesbian behavior
 ABNORMALITIES 11
5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE DEFICIENCY
Individuals born with this condition have a deficient enzyme
known as 5-reductase that converts testosterone into 5-alpha-
dihydrotestosterone - responsible for the masculinization of the
external organs of the fetus.
Those with this condition have ambiguous external genitals and
are commonly raised as girls.
At puberty, increased levels of testosterone lead to the
development of male secondary sex characteristics.
 12

THE CASE OF JOHN

THANK YOU!
Presented By :
Jovelyn Antonio
Suzan Candelaria
Joana Marie Pamilaran
Quiz Time!!
1. What are the sex chromosomes carried by the mother’s egg cells?
a) Y chromosomes
b) Z chromosomes
c) X chromosomes
d) W chromosomes

2. What are the two types of sex chromosomes found in the father's sperm cells?
a) X and Y chromosomes
b) A and B chromosomes
c) M and N chromosomes
d) C and D chromosomes

3. If an egg is fertilized by a sperm carrying an X chromosome, what is the resulting sex chromosome
pair?
a) XY
b) XX
c) YY
d) XZ
4. At what stage of prenatal development do embryos have identical primordial gonads?
a) 3 weeks
b) 6 weeks
c) 12 weeks
d) 24 weeks

5. What gene triggers the development of testes in male embryos?

a) SRY gene
b) XXY gene
c) XYY gene
d) ZRY gene

6. What hormone is primarily responsible for stimulating the development of the Wolffian system
in male embryos?
a) Estrogen
b) Progesterone
c) Testosterone
d) Androgens
7. What reproductive ducts do both male and female embryos possess before the third month of
prenatal development?
a) Mullerian system
b) Wolffian system
c) Both A and B
d) Neither A nor B

8. What happens to the Mullerian system in males during the third month of development?
a) It develops into the uterus.
b) It degenerates due to anti-Mullerian hormones.
c) It becomes the fallopian tubes.
d) It remains unchanged.

9. What external organ develops from the glans in females?

a) Penis
b) Scrotum
c) Clitoris
d) Labia majora
10. Which hormone is secreted by the testes during puberty?
a) FSH
b) LH
c) Estradiol
d) Testosterone

11. What is the main characteristic of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)?

a) Individuals develop male appearance with XY genotype.
b) Individuals develop female appearance with XY genotype.
c) Individuals have both male and female genitalia.
d) Individuals lack any reproductive organs.

12. What happens to the internal female reproductive system in individuals with AIS?
a) It fully develops.
b) It remains inactive.
c) It develops into male organs.
d) It becomes hypertrophic.
13. What condition results in ambiguous external genitalia and increased androgen levels?
a) Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
b) Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
c) Turner Syndrome
d) Klinefelter Syndrome

14. Which of the following best describes 5-alpha-reductase deficiency?

a) Lack of ovaries
b) Mutation in androgen receptors
c) Deficient enzyme that affects masculinization
d) Increased estrogen levels

15. What role does estradiol play in female sexual development?

a) It stimulates Wolffian system.
b) It is a type of androgen.
c) It helps develop secondary sex characteristics.
d) It inhibits testosterone production.
16. At what point do the external reproductive organs begin to differentiate?
a) 3 weeks after fertilization
b) 6 weeks after fertilization
c) 9 weeks after fertilization
d) 12 weeks after fertilization

17. What is the effect of higher levels of androgens compared to estrogen?

a) Feminization
b) Masculinization
c) No effect
d) Both A and B

18. In the case of CAH, what behavioral tendencies are commonly observed?
a) Increased engagement in female-related activities
b) Display of tomboyishness and male-related activities
c) Total indifference to gender roles
d) Exclusive heterosexual behavior
19. What does the term 'ambiguous external genitalia' refer to?
a) Clear male and female characteristics
b) Indistinct genitalia that do not clearly define male or female
c) Complete absence of external genitalia
d) Fully developed male genitalia

20. What hormone inhibits the development of the Mullerian

system in males?
a) Estradiol
b) Progesterone
c) Testosterone
d) Anti-Mullerian hormone
ANSWER KEY!
1. C) X chromosomes
2. A) X and Y chromosomes
3. B) XX
4. B) 6 weeks
5. A) SRY gene
6. C) Testosterone
7. C) Both A and B
8. B) It degenerates due to anti-Mullerian hormones.
9. C) Clitoris
10. D) Testosterone
11. B) Individuals develop female appearance with XY genotype.
12. B) It remains inactive.
13. B) Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
14. C) Deficient enzyme that affects masculinization
15. C) It helps develop secondary sex characteristics.
16. B) 6 weeks after fertilization
17. B) Masculinization
18. B) Display of tomboyishness and male-related activities
19. B) Indistinct genitalia that do not clearly define male or female
20. D) Anti-Mullerian hormone