hermaphroditism

hermaphroditism /her·maph·ro·di·tism/ (her-maf´ro-di-tizm″) presence in an individual of both ovarian and testicular tissues and of ambiguous morphologic criteria of sex; see also pseudohermaphroditism. hermaphrodit´ic

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bilateral hermaphroditism  that in which gonadal tissue typical of both sexes occurs on each side of the body.

false hermaphroditism  pseudohermaphroditism.

lateral hermaphroditism  presence of gonadal tissue typical of one sex on one side of the body and tissue typical of the other sex on the opposite side.

transverse hermaphroditism  that in which the external genital organs are typical of one sex and the gonads typical of the other sex.

true hermaphroditism  see hermaphroditism.

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her·maph·ro·dit·ism (hr-mfr-d-tzm)

n.

The presence of both ovarian and testicular tissue in an individual.

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hermaphroditism

[hərmaf′rədītiz′əm]

Etymology: Gk, Hermaphroditos, son of Hermes and Aphrodite

a rare condition resulting from a chromosomal abnormality in which both testicular and ovarian tissue exist in the same person. The testicular tissue contains seminiferous tubules or spermatozoa, and the ovarian tissue contains follicles or corpora albicantia. Also called hermaphrodism. Compare pseudohermaphroditism. hermaphroditic, adj.

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Hermaphroditism

A state characterised by the presence of both testicular tissue—i.e., seminiferous tubules—and ovarian tissue—i.e., follicular structures—in the same organ, yielding an ‘ovotestis,’ in which the tissues are arranged end-to-end and may be accompanied by a left-sided ovary and a right-sided testis; 60% of patients are 46 XX, 12% are 46 XY, and the remainder are mosaics

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hermaphroditism [her-maf´ro-di-tizm″]

presence of both ovarian and testicular tissue and of ambiguous morphologic criteria of sex, a rare condition in human beings. Hermaphroditism is not to be confused with pseudohermaphroditism, in which an individual has only one kind of gonad but has significant secondary sex characters typical of the opposite sex.

bilateral hermaphroditism that in which gonadal tissue typical of both sexes occurs on each side of the body.

false hermaphroditism pseudohermaphroditism.

lateral hermaphroditism presence of gonadal tissue typical of one sex on one side of the body and typical of the other sex on the opposite side.

transverse hermaphroditism that in which the external genital organs are typical of one sex and the gonads typical of the other sex.

true hermaphroditism coexistence in the same person of both ovarian and testicular tissue, with somatic characters typical of both sexes.

unilateral hermaphroditism presence of gonadal tissue typical of both sexes on one side and of only an ovary or a testis on the other.

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hermaphroditism

a state characterized by the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissue and of ambiguous morphological criteria of sex. Hermaphroditism is not to be confused with pseudohermaphroditism, in which an individual with only one kind of gonad possesses reproductive organs that reflect some characteristics of the opposite sex, owing to improper balance of male and female hormones or other endocrine disorder.

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bilateral hermaphroditism

that in which gonadal tissue typical of both sexes occurs on each side of the body.

false hermaphroditism

pseudohermaphroditism.

lateral hermaphroditism

presence of gonadal tissue typical of one sex on one side of the body and tissue typical of the other sex on the opposite side.

sequential hermaphroditism

see hermaphrodite.

synchronous hermaphroditism

see hermaphrodite.

transverse hermaphroditism

that in which the external genital organs are typical of one sex and the gonads typical of the other sex.

true hermaphroditism

coexistence in the same animal of both ovarian and testicular tissue, with somatic characters typical of both sexes.

unilateral hermaphroditism

presence of gonadal tissue typical of both sexes on one side and of only an ovary or a testis on the other.

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hermaphroditism

Intersexuality A state characterized by the presence of both testicular tissue–ie, seminiferous tubules and ovarian tissue–ie, follicular structures in the same organ, yielding an 'ovotestis,' in which the tissues are arranged end-to-end and may be accompanied by a left-sided ovary and a right-sided testis; 60% of Pts are 46 XX, 12% 46 XY, the rest, mosaics Clinical Most true hermaphrodites have asymmetrical external genitalia–eg, labioscrotal folds; phenotypic ♂ may have gynecomastia, phenotypic ♀ may be amenorrheic or have successful gestation; 2.6% develop germ cell tumors. See Female hermaphroditism, Male hermaphroditism. Cf Pseudohermaphroditism.