Adolescence and Puberty

Adolescence and Puberty

The term adolescence is derived from the Latin word ‘adolescere’ meaning ‘to grow’ or ‘grow to maturity’. During this period changes occur in height, weight, sex organs, muscle mass as well as in brain structure and function. Biologically it is a physical transition marked by the onset of puberty and termination of physical growth in an individual.

Puberty

Puberty is a period of few years in which rapid physical; physiological and psychological changes occur resulting in sexual maturity. We can predict the sequence of physical changes that will take place but the age of beginning of puberty varies from individual to individual. The average age for the onset of puberty is 10 or 11 for girls and 12 or 13 for boys. But, factors like genetic and biological influences, life events, socio-economic status, nutrition and diet and the amount of body fat also affect the onset and progression of puberty.

Hormones play an important role at the time of puberty. Changes in hormones during this period trigger physical and behavioural changes. Sex hormones secreted at the time of puberty activate the male and female sex glands to produce necessary secretions in the body. The male sex glands, testes release the testosterone and the female sex gland, the ovaries release the estrogen. These result in changes in the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of the male and female.

Body changes at Puberty

Four impotant changes that occur during puberty transform the body of a child into that of an adult. These changes are:

• Changes in body size

• Changes in body proportion

• Development of primary sex characteristics

• Development of secondary sex characteristics

a. Changes in body size

The first major change at the time of puberty is growth which is the increase in body height and weight. It usually begins at the age of 10 to 12 in girls and 12 to 13 in boys. It is almost complete at around the age of 17 to 19 in girls and 19 to 20 in boys. During adolescence both boys and girls add around 23 cm to 26 cm in the height. In addition to height, they also experience significant increase in weight. But increase in weight is influenced by various factors like diet, exercise and life style. The average weight gain during this period is about 17 kg to 19 kg. During this period, increase in fat is seen in girls in contrast to muscle development in boys.

b. Changes in body proportion

Certain body areas which are small proportionately grow big. This can be seen in feet and hands. During childhood, legs grow proportionately more than the trunk. But at the time of puberty trunk also lengthens. Also, trunk broadens at the hip and shoulder thus giving the adult proportion to the body.

Activity 1

Divide the students in your class into different groups (Form separate groups for boys and girls). Measure the height and weight of all the students in each group and find out the average. Record your observations in your notebook.

c. Primary sex characteristics

Reproductive organs of boys and girls become fully functional at the time of puberty. In boys, testes grow larger followed by that length and size of the reproductive organ increase.

Similarly, female reproductive organ also grows during puberty. Thus, the size of the uterus and the weight of the ovaries increase during this time.

Testes and ovaries are called primary sex organs of the male and female respectively.