male

sex

Also known as: ♂

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June 30, 2026

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The term "maleness" refers to the qualities that distinguish an individual that produces small, usually motile gametes (sperm) from one that produces eggs. This is often synonymous with masculinity.1

In many species, sex is determined by sex chromosomes. In humans and mammals, males typically have an XY chromosome pair, while females have an XX pair. The presence of a Y chromosome generally directs development towards the male sex, while two X chromosomes direct development toward the female sex.2

Primary sex characteristics, present at birth, include the internal and external genitalia like the penis and testes in males. These are distinct from secondary sex characteristics, such as facial hair and a deeper voice, which develop later. The hormone testosterone, produced by the testes, plays a crucial role in the development of male sex organs and masculine traits.34

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muscle disease
The muscular dystrophies
…Duchenne type, which predominately affects boys, is severe. It causes difficulty in walking at about the age of four years, loss of the ability to walk at about the age of 11, and death before the age of 20, usually because of respiratory failure or pulmonary infections. There is a…
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…Duchenne type, which predominately affects boys, is severe. It causes difficulty in walking at about the age of four years, loss of the ability to walk at about the age of 11, and death before the age of 20, usually because of respiratory failure or pulmonary infections. There is a…
Read More

heredity
Prescientific conceptions of heredity
…of the female and the male parents were very unequal; the female was thought to supply what he called the “matter” and the male the “motion.” The Institutes of Manu, composed in India between 100 and 300 ad, consider the role of the female like that of the field and…
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…of the female and the male parents were very unequal; the female was thought to supply what he called the “matter” and the male the “motion.” The Institutes of Manu, composed in India between 100 and 300 ad, consider the role of the female like that of the field and…
Read More