The most significant difference in the anatomy and internal organs between males and females is the reproductive system, of course. But there are less dramatic differences in the anatomy and physiology of many other organs of the body. In this article, we’ll look at the anatomy of male internal organs and how it differs from female organs.
Organs of the male reproductive system
The male reproductive system has organs which are not found in the female anatomy, and it is also lacking some organs that are found only in females. The male reproductive system includes the testes, which are responsible for producing sperm cells and the male sex hormone testosterone, as well as the prostate gland, ejaculatory ducts and vas deferens. Female organs like the uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes and vagina are not found in the anatomy of male internal organs.
Differences between males and females in other body systems
Male skeletons are usually larger, heavier and denser than female skeletons, and male bodies contain a higher percentage of muscle mass, although the strength of each individual muscle fiber is comparable for men and women. Men’s thyroid cartilage tends to be more pronounced, creating the appearance of the Adam’s apple.
In the respiratory system, males have lung volume approximately 56% greater than females, per body mass. They also have a larger trachea, heart, and higher red blood cell count.
On average, male brains are larger than female brains, although this difference disappears when controlling for body mass. Men’s brains also tend to be less symmetrical than women’s brains, with a larger intra-hemispheric connectivity (while females have a larger inter-hemispheric connectivity). Areas of the brain associated with visual and spatial processing are generally larger in males, while the areas associated with auditory and language processing are smaller in men. The amygdala is larger in male brains than in female brains, while the hippocampus has been shown to be smaller in men.
Anatomy differences in men and women
The idea that “sexless” body systems may work differently in men and women is still a fairly new concept and has led to the creation of gender-based medicine.
Historically, the majority of scientific and medical research has been done on males, and it was assumed that in sexless body systems, the results of that research would translate to women as well.
However, we are learning that there are more physiological differences between males and females than we once thought, which explains the prevalence of certain diseases in one sex over the other.
