Hermaphrodite is a term which comes from Hermaphroditus, the son of Hermes and Aphrodite. It is used as a scientific term in biology.
In zoology, an animal that can produce both sperm and ova is a hermaphrodite. As an example, most earthworms are hermaphrodites. A simultaneous hermaphrodite has both sets of sex organs throughout life. A sequential hermaphrodite has ovaries at first that is replaced by a testis later or the other way round.
In botany, hermaphrodite is used for 'complete' flowers with both male and female parts and for plants with bisexual reproductive units. See flowering plant sexuality for details.
With people, the term hermaphrodite is not correct because true functioning hermaphrodites are not possible in humans. What sometimes happens is errors in development that lead to intersex people. A definition of intersex is the following:
- "... individuals of a bisexual species that have characteristics intermediate between the male and female".
Intersex people may have a very small penis and no testicles, or a very small and short vagina and a large clitoris that looks like a penis.