Final answer:
The term 'intersex' is the appropriate and respectful term to use when referring to people with sex characteristics that don't fit typical binary notions of male and female, while 'hermaphrodite', 'pseudohermaphrodite', and 'berdache' are outdated and not appropriate for describing human conditions related to sex development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within the context of human biology and sex characteristics, the term 'hermaphrodite' is outdated and not used to describe human conditions. For animals, such as earthworms, slugs, and snails, hermaphroditism is a natural phenomenon where an individual possesses both male and female reproductive organs, which can be important for their reproductive strategies. However, when referring to human biology, the term intersex is considered the appropriate and respectful term.
Individuals described as intersex have sex traits, reproductive anatomy, hormones, or chromosomes that differ from traditional binary notions of male and female development. It's a broad term that encompasses a variety of conditions and is recognized by medical and advocacy communities. The terms 'hermaphrodite' and 'pseudohermaphrodite' are not considered proper descriptions for intersex people and reflect outdated medical terminology. 'Berdache' is a term historically used by European colonists to describe Indigenous North Americans who did not fit their gender categories, but it is also outdated and not relevant to biological sex characteristics.