Autosomes are the chromosomes that are not involved in determining the sex of an organism. In humans, there are 22 pairs of autosomes, which are numbered from 1 to 22 based on their size. Each pair consists of one chromosome inherited from the mother and one from the father, carrying genes that influence various traits and functions. Unlike sex chromosomes, which are X and Y in humans, autosomes contain the majority of an individual's genetic information. They play a crucial role in inheritance, as they carry genes responsible for characteristics such as eye color, height, and susceptibility to certain diseases.