PROBLEM 8: When Puberty Hits…
Source: Shaffer & Kipp, Berk, article, video on canvas
What is Puberty?
Puberty: period that marks the start of adolescence
- Reach sexual maturity and become capable of producing offspring
- Physical transition to adulthood
Adolescence:
- Transitional phase from puberty to adulthood, hormonal and physical changes
Primary sexual Characteristics:
- Reproductive organs
- Ovaries, uterus, vagina in females
- Penis, scrotum, testes in males
Secondary Sexual Characteristics:
- Visible on the outside of the body and serve as additional signs of sexual maturity
- Breasts in females
- Underarm/ pubic hair in both sexes
Physical Transition to Adulthood
milestones
Growth Spurt:
rapid increase in physical growth that marks the beginning of adolescence
- Girls: 10.5-13.5 (peak at 12)
o Return to slower rate of growth by age 13
o Most girls gain 2.5 cm after menarche
- Boys: 13-16 (peak at 14)
o Return to normal by 16
, SEXUAL MATURATION IN GIRLS
- Begins at age 9-11
- Budding of breasts: fat tissues accumulated
around nipples
o Full breast development finishes
around 14
- Growth spurt
- body hair
o underarms
o pubic area
o legs/ arms
o face, to a less degree
- Vagina becomes larger
- Uterus walls develop a powerful set of
muscles
- Menarche: first menstruation
o around 10-15
o fertile
o some girls menstruate without ovulating and may remain unable to reproduce
for 12-18 months after
SEXUAL MATURATION IN BOYS
- age 10-13
- Enlargement of testes and scrotum
- Unpigmented pubic hair
- Texture and color of scrotum changes
- Penis lengthens and widens
- Sperm Arche: first ejaculation
o 13-14.5
- Facial hair
- Deepening of voice as the larynx grows
and vocal cords lengthen
Individual and Group Differences in
Pubertal Growth
- Heredity:
o timing of pubertal changes
o Contributes to height and rate of
physical growth
o Genes influence growth by controlling body’s sensitivity and production of
hormones
o Evidence for this: identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins and
most pubertal milestones (growth spurt, breast dev.)
Source: Shaffer & Kipp, Berk, article, video on canvas
What is Puberty?
Puberty: period that marks the start of adolescence
- Reach sexual maturity and become capable of producing offspring
- Physical transition to adulthood
Adolescence:
- Transitional phase from puberty to adulthood, hormonal and physical changes
Primary sexual Characteristics:
- Reproductive organs
- Ovaries, uterus, vagina in females
- Penis, scrotum, testes in males
Secondary Sexual Characteristics:
- Visible on the outside of the body and serve as additional signs of sexual maturity
- Breasts in females
- Underarm/ pubic hair in both sexes
Physical Transition to Adulthood
milestones
Growth Spurt:
rapid increase in physical growth that marks the beginning of adolescence
- Girls: 10.5-13.5 (peak at 12)
o Return to slower rate of growth by age 13
o Most girls gain 2.5 cm after menarche
- Boys: 13-16 (peak at 14)
o Return to normal by 16
, SEXUAL MATURATION IN GIRLS
- Begins at age 9-11
- Budding of breasts: fat tissues accumulated
around nipples
o Full breast development finishes
around 14
- Growth spurt
- body hair
o underarms
o pubic area
o legs/ arms
o face, to a less degree
- Vagina becomes larger
- Uterus walls develop a powerful set of
muscles
- Menarche: first menstruation
o around 10-15
o fertile
o some girls menstruate without ovulating and may remain unable to reproduce
for 12-18 months after
SEXUAL MATURATION IN BOYS
- age 10-13
- Enlargement of testes and scrotum
- Unpigmented pubic hair
- Texture and color of scrotum changes
- Penis lengthens and widens
- Sperm Arche: first ejaculation
o 13-14.5
- Facial hair
- Deepening of voice as the larynx grows
and vocal cords lengthen
Individual and Group Differences in
Pubertal Growth
- Heredity:
o timing of pubertal changes
o Contributes to height and rate of
physical growth
o Genes influence growth by controlling body’s sensitivity and production of
hormones
o Evidence for this: identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins and
most pubertal milestones (growth spurt, breast dev.)
