Anatomy

Sex Chromosomes

The homologous chromosomes that are dissimilar in the heterogametic sex. There are the X CHROMOSOME, the Y CHROMOSOME, and the W, Z chromosomes (in animals in which the female is the heterogametic sex (the silkworm moth Bombyx mori, for example)). In such cases the W chromosome is the female-determining and the male is ZZ. (From King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The homologous chromosomes that are dissimilar in the heterogametic sex. There are the X CHROMOSOME, the Y CHROMOSOME, and the W, Z chromosomes (in animals in which the female is the heterogametic sex (the silkworm moth Bombyx mori, for example)). In such cases the W chromosome is the female-determining and the male is ZZ. (From King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Gonosomes
  • Chromosome, Sex
  • Chromosomes, Sex
  • Gonosome
  • Sex Chromosome

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

14 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

68

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Chromosomes (1966-1967)
  • Sex Chromatin (1966-1967)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A11w.284w.187w.865w
  2. G05.360w.162w.865w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QU 470

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Sex Chromosomes. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D012730. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D012730
  2. Sex Chromosomes. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_chromosome
  3. Sex Chromosomes. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q667636