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Which structure contributes to the secondary sex characteristics in males?
Seminiferous tubules
Testes
Leydig cells
Epididymis
The correct answer is: Leydig cells
The correct answer is Leydig cells, as these cells are responsible for the production of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone. Testosterone plays a crucial role in the development of secondary sex characteristics during puberty, such as increased muscle mass, deepening of the voice, and the growth of facial and body hair. In contrast, while the seminiferous tubules are essential for the production and maturation of sperm, they do not directly influence secondary sex characteristics. The testes produce both sperm and testosterone but are not the specific structures that facilitate the characteristics themselves. The epididymis functions primarily for the storage and maturation of sperm after they leave the seminiferous tubules but does not contribute to the development of secondary sex characteristics. Therefore, Leydig cells are integral to this process because of their role in testosterone secretion.