How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

Humans possess 23 pairs of chromosomes. This total comprises 22 pairs of autosomes, which are non-sex chromosomes, and one pair of sex chromosomes, which determine an individual's sex (XX for females and XY for males). Each pair consists of one chromosome inherited from the mother and one from the father, resulting in a diploid number of 46 chromosomes in total.

This configuration is crucial for genetic diversity and the proper segregation of genetic material during reproduction. Understanding the number of chromosome pairs is fundamental to studying genetics, human biology, and inheritance patterns.