NSG 6430 week1 Exam Prep 2026/2027 –
Comprehensive Review | Practice Q&A
What 3 hormonal axes are attributed to most physical changes in adolescents? -
correct answer-1) Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis
2) Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)
3) Growth hormone (GH) axis
What hormones are attributed to Hypothalamic-pituitary-GONADAL (HPG) axis? -
correct answer-1. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), also called
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)
2. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
3. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
4. Estrogen
5. Testosterone
What hormones are attributed to Hypothalamic-pituitary-ADRENAL axis (HPA)? -
correct answer-1. Adrenocorticotropic hormone
2. Dehydroepiandrosterone (ACTH)
3. DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S)
,What hormones are attributed to Growth hormone (GH)?axis - correct answer-1.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
2. Growth hormone (GH)
3. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs)
What is thought to be three distinct changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary unit
that may trigger puberty? - correct answer-three distinct changes in the
hypothalamic-pituitary unit:
(1) a nocturnal sleep-related augmentation of pulsatile LH secretion;
(2) a decrease in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus and the pituitary to estradiol
and testosterone, so that the gonadotropins LH and FSH begin to increase; and
(3) in the female, development of a positive feedback system, whereby critical
levels of estrogen trigger a large release of GnRH, stimulating LH to initiate
ovulation.
What scale allows for the accurate classification of physical pubertal maturation -
correct answer-Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR) scale (also called the Tanner scale)
Girls major events of puberty - correct answer-1. Thelarche
2. Growth Spurt
3. Menarche
Thelarche - correct answer-Often the earliest physical sign of puberty in girls,
although a minority develop pubic hair as the first sign. On average, breast
development starts at age 10.0 for Caucasian girls and 8.9 years for African-
American girls
,Growth Spurt - correct answer-Thelarche and pubarche (pubic hair) may both be
preceded by about 1 year by the growth spurt; thus the growth curve is an
essential tool in the evaluation of precocious puberty.
Menarche - correct answer-This event usually occurs during SMR B3 or B4 and
about 3.3 years after the growth spurt, or roughly 2 years after breast budding.
What is the average length of time for completion of puberty ? - correct answer-4
years, but it can range from 1.5 to 8 years
What is the first physical sign of puberty in the majority of boys ? - correct
answer-Testicular Growth: The first physical sign of puberty in the majority of
boys is increased testicular volume, although the most noticeable first event of
male puberty is the growth of pubic hair
What are other signs of male puberty? - correct answer-2. Growth Spurt:
Midpuberty, or the time of rising testosterone concentrations, is associated with
the period of most rapid linear growth in boys, in contrast to the early growth
spurt in girls. It is also at this time that the voice changes axillary hair appears, and
possibly also acne. Facial hair growth typically starts about 3 years after pubic hair
growth. The hair on the face, chest, back, and abdomen may continue to appear
throughout and beyond puberty into adulthood, its amount and distribution being
quite variable and dependent on ethnicity and family patterns.
3. Attainment of Fertility: Ejaculation usually occurs at SMR G3, as does the first
evidence of spermarche, but fertility is not usually attained until SMR G4.
What is the average length of time for completion of puberty for boys? - correct
answer-average length of time for the completion of puberty is 3 years, but it can
range from 2 to 5 years.
, Genital development is initiated at about 10.1 years for white boys, 9.5 years for
African-American boys, and 10.4 years for Mexican-American boys, with
completion of puberty at 15.9 years in white boys, 15.7 years in African-American
boys, and 14.9 years in Mexican-American boys.
Gonadal Steroids - correct answer-The target tissues of LH and FSH are the
ovaries and testes, which produce estradiol and testosterone, respectively.
Testicular Leydig cells also produce androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, and
estradiol, but to a much lesser extent.
Estrogen. - correct answer-Estradiol from the ovary accounts for the majority of
the circulating estrogens, although there is a small amount of extraovarian
conversion from androstenedione and testosterone. In addition to stimulating
breast growth and maturation of the vaginal mucosa, estrogen has been found to
have a major impact on the skeleton, being the primary hormone responsible for
epiphyseal closure.
Testosterone. - correct answer-The testes produce most of the circulating
testosterone, but a small amount comes from extratesticular conversion of the
adrenal hormone androstenedione in both males and females. Testosterone is
responsible for the voice change in males and the attainment of male body
habitus, while dihydrotestosterone, the product of conversion of testosterone by
5a-reductase, causes growth of the phallus and prostate.
GnRH Pulse Generator - correct answer-At the time of puberty, GnRH is secreted
from the GnRH pulse generator in the hypothalamus, leading to pituitary
secretion of LH and FSH and subsequent secretion of estradiol from the ovaries or
testosterone from the testes. The exact triggers are still incompletely understood,
although new research has elucidated new potential regulators and key players in
the awakening of this system. These include leptin, the genes GPR54/KiSS-1, as
well as several neuropeptides and neurotransmitters.
Comprehensive Review | Practice Q&A
What 3 hormonal axes are attributed to most physical changes in adolescents? -
correct answer-1) Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis
2) Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)
3) Growth hormone (GH) axis
What hormones are attributed to Hypothalamic-pituitary-GONADAL (HPG) axis? -
correct answer-1. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), also called
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)
2. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
3. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
4. Estrogen
5. Testosterone
What hormones are attributed to Hypothalamic-pituitary-ADRENAL axis (HPA)? -
correct answer-1. Adrenocorticotropic hormone
2. Dehydroepiandrosterone (ACTH)
3. DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S)
,What hormones are attributed to Growth hormone (GH)?axis - correct answer-1.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
2. Growth hormone (GH)
3. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs)
What is thought to be three distinct changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary unit
that may trigger puberty? - correct answer-three distinct changes in the
hypothalamic-pituitary unit:
(1) a nocturnal sleep-related augmentation of pulsatile LH secretion;
(2) a decrease in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus and the pituitary to estradiol
and testosterone, so that the gonadotropins LH and FSH begin to increase; and
(3) in the female, development of a positive feedback system, whereby critical
levels of estrogen trigger a large release of GnRH, stimulating LH to initiate
ovulation.
What scale allows for the accurate classification of physical pubertal maturation -
correct answer-Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR) scale (also called the Tanner scale)
Girls major events of puberty - correct answer-1. Thelarche
2. Growth Spurt
3. Menarche
Thelarche - correct answer-Often the earliest physical sign of puberty in girls,
although a minority develop pubic hair as the first sign. On average, breast
development starts at age 10.0 for Caucasian girls and 8.9 years for African-
American girls
,Growth Spurt - correct answer-Thelarche and pubarche (pubic hair) may both be
preceded by about 1 year by the growth spurt; thus the growth curve is an
essential tool in the evaluation of precocious puberty.
Menarche - correct answer-This event usually occurs during SMR B3 or B4 and
about 3.3 years after the growth spurt, or roughly 2 years after breast budding.
What is the average length of time for completion of puberty ? - correct answer-4
years, but it can range from 1.5 to 8 years
What is the first physical sign of puberty in the majority of boys ? - correct
answer-Testicular Growth: The first physical sign of puberty in the majority of
boys is increased testicular volume, although the most noticeable first event of
male puberty is the growth of pubic hair
What are other signs of male puberty? - correct answer-2. Growth Spurt:
Midpuberty, or the time of rising testosterone concentrations, is associated with
the period of most rapid linear growth in boys, in contrast to the early growth
spurt in girls. It is also at this time that the voice changes axillary hair appears, and
possibly also acne. Facial hair growth typically starts about 3 years after pubic hair
growth. The hair on the face, chest, back, and abdomen may continue to appear
throughout and beyond puberty into adulthood, its amount and distribution being
quite variable and dependent on ethnicity and family patterns.
3. Attainment of Fertility: Ejaculation usually occurs at SMR G3, as does the first
evidence of spermarche, but fertility is not usually attained until SMR G4.
What is the average length of time for completion of puberty for boys? - correct
answer-average length of time for the completion of puberty is 3 years, but it can
range from 2 to 5 years.
, Genital development is initiated at about 10.1 years for white boys, 9.5 years for
African-American boys, and 10.4 years for Mexican-American boys, with
completion of puberty at 15.9 years in white boys, 15.7 years in African-American
boys, and 14.9 years in Mexican-American boys.
Gonadal Steroids - correct answer-The target tissues of LH and FSH are the
ovaries and testes, which produce estradiol and testosterone, respectively.
Testicular Leydig cells also produce androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, and
estradiol, but to a much lesser extent.
Estrogen. - correct answer-Estradiol from the ovary accounts for the majority of
the circulating estrogens, although there is a small amount of extraovarian
conversion from androstenedione and testosterone. In addition to stimulating
breast growth and maturation of the vaginal mucosa, estrogen has been found to
have a major impact on the skeleton, being the primary hormone responsible for
epiphyseal closure.
Testosterone. - correct answer-The testes produce most of the circulating
testosterone, but a small amount comes from extratesticular conversion of the
adrenal hormone androstenedione in both males and females. Testosterone is
responsible for the voice change in males and the attainment of male body
habitus, while dihydrotestosterone, the product of conversion of testosterone by
5a-reductase, causes growth of the phallus and prostate.
GnRH Pulse Generator - correct answer-At the time of puberty, GnRH is secreted
from the GnRH pulse generator in the hypothalamus, leading to pituitary
secretion of LH and FSH and subsequent secretion of estradiol from the ovaries or
testosterone from the testes. The exact triggers are still incompletely understood,
although new research has elucidated new potential regulators and key players in
the awakening of this system. These include leptin, the genes GPR54/KiSS-1, as
well as several neuropeptides and neurotransmitters.
