What are primary sex characteristics?

Primary sex characteristics refer to the anatomical structures that are directly involved in the reproductive process. These include the organs that are present at birth and play a critical role in sexual reproduction, such as the ovaries and testes in females and males, respectively. These characteristics are essential for the functioning of the reproductive system and are determined biologically.

The other choices provided illustrate different concepts that are not the primary focus when defining primary sex characteristics. For instance, physical traits that appear after puberty refer to secondary sex characteristics, which are changes that occur during adolescence, such as breast development and increased muscle mass. Behavioral traits related to gender identity encompass how individuals express their gender, which is influenced by various social factors rather than biological sex. Characteristics influenced by societal expectations pertain to societal norms and roles associated with gender, which further diverges from the biological basis of primary sex characteristics. Thus, the definition centered on anatomical structures involved in reproduction is the only accurate reflection of primary sex characteristics.