Hermaphroditism

Hermaphroditism is an extremely rare state in which there are both ovarian and testicular tissues:

• there may be a testis on one side and an ovary on the other; or
• ovotestes may be present; these are a histological mixture of ovary and testis

The development of the internal and external genitalia varies over a continuum between the typically male and female:

• most have a uterus with other ductal structures being more variable
• the phallus varies from a small penis to a large clitoris
• a bifid scrotum may appear as enlarged labia

Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease, Cotran, R.S., Kumar, V & Robbins, S.L., 1989, 4th edition, W.B. Saunders Company, p.135