Final answer:
Sex chromosomes differ between males and females and determine an individual's sex, with females having XX and males having XY. Autosomal chromosomes are the remaining pairs that are the same in both sexes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chromosomes that differ between males and females are called sex chromosomes. In humans, the 23rd pair of chromosomes determines the sex of the individual. Females have two X chromosomes (XX), whereas males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The Y chromosome is distinct between the sexes and contains genes that determine male development. Autosomes refer to the other chromosome pairs (1-22) that are the same in both males and females. These autosomes carry genes for various functions unrelated to sex determination.
The distinction between sex chromosomes and autosomes is fundamental to understanding human genetics and the inheritance of certain traits. For example, males being XY are heterogametic, producing two different kinds of sex chromosomes during meiosis, while females are homogametic (XX), producing gametes with the same type of sex chromosome.