Hermaphroditismi

Hermaphroditism is a biological condition in which an organism possesses both male and female reproductive organs. The term comes from the Greek mythological figure Hermaphroditos, a fusion of Hermes and Aphrodite, and is used primarily in biology to describe certain patterns of reproduction found across species.

In biology, hermaphroditism occurs in two main forms. Simultaneous hermaphroditism refers to individuals that have functioning male and female gonads at the same time, often capable of self-fertilization or cross-fertilization depending on the species. This form is common in many invertebrates such as certain mollusks and flatworms, as well as some fish and plants. Sequential hermaphroditism describes individuals that start life as one sex and change to the other during development or adulthood. Subtypes include protandry (male first, then female) and protogyny (female first, then male), which occur in several fish species, including some groupers and wrasses.

Plants also exhibit hermaphroditism, in which many flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both stamens (male organs) and pistils (female organs) within the same flower.

In humans and other mammals, the term hermaphrodite is considered outdated and is often replaced by intersex or disorders of sex development (DSD). True hermaphroditism—having both ovarian and testicular tissue in the same individual (ovotesticular DSD)—is extremely rare and typically presents with atypical genitalia or mosaic karyotypes. Modern terminology emphasizes the variation in sex development rather than a simplistic male–female binary and prioritizes informed, respectful medical and social care.