What are sex hormones? Why are they named so? State their functions.

Hormones which are secreted by testis in males and ovaries in females are called Sex Hormones. In males, it is testosterone and in females it is estrogen. They are named so because these hormones are responsible for the male and female secondary sexual characteristics.

In females, the primary function of estrogen is the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as the development of breast, maturation of endometrium and regulation of the menstrual cycle. Whereas in males, it is testosterone that plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as prostate and testes and also promotes secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscles and bone mass and growth of body hair.