Secondary Sex Characteristics for Boys and Girls

SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS.

IMPORTANT SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS - BOYS

Hair

Pubic hair appears about one year after the testes and penis have started to increase in size. Axillary and facial hair appear when the pubic hair has almost completed its growth, as does body hair. At first, all hair is scanty, lightly pigmented and fine texture. Later it becomes darker and coarser.

Skin

The skin becomes coarser, less transparent, and lighter in color and the pores enlarge.

Glands

The sebaceous or oil-producing glands in the skin enlarge and become more active, which may cause acne. The apocrine glands in the armpits start to function and perspiration increases as puberty progresses.

Muscles

The muscles increase markedly in size and strength, thus giving shape to the arms, legs, and shoulders.

Voice

Voice changes begin after some pubic hair has appeared. The voice first becomes husky and later drops in pitch, increases in volume, and acquires a pleasant tone. Voice breaks are common when maturing is rapid.

Breast Knots

Slight knobs around the male mammary glands appear between the ages of twelve and fourteen. These last for several weeks and then decrease in number and size.

SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS - GIRLS

Hips

The hips become wider and rounder. There is enlargement of the pelvic bone and the development of subcutaneous fat.

Breasts

Shortly after the hips start to enlarge, the breasts begin to develop. The nipples enlarge and as the mammary glands develop breasts become larger and rounder.

Hair

Pubic hair appears after hip and breast development is well under way. Axillary hair begins to appear after the menarche, as does facial hair. Hair appears on the limbs late in puberty. All except facial hair is straight and lightly pigmented at first and then becomes more luxuriant and darker.

Skin

The skin becomes coarser and thicker, and the pores enlarge.

Glands

The sebaceous and apocrine glands become active as puberty progresses. Clogging of the sebaceous glands can cause acne, while the apocrine glands in the armpits produce perspiration, this is especially heavy and pungent just before and during the menstrual period.

Muscles

The muscles increase in size and strength especially in the middle of puberty and towards the end, thus giving shape to the shoulders, arms and legs.

Voice

The voice becomes fuller and more melodious. Huskiness and breaks in the voice are rare in girls.

EFFECT OF PUBERTY CHANGES ON ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR

The desire for isolation especially from family members and activities referred to as withdrawal syndrome. Boredom is very common. Rapid and uneven growth affects habitual patterns of coordination leading to clumsy and awkward behavior. Pubescent child is often uncooperative, disagreeable and antagonistic moodiness, sulkiness, temper out bursts and irritability are found. They lack self confidence. They become excessively modest.

Body changes in puberty

1.     Changes in body size - in terms of height and weight. The greatest increase in height comes in the year following the onset of puberty. After that growth declines and continue at a slow rate. Weight gain comes from increase in fat, bone and muscle tissues.

2.     Changes in body proportions - the thin long trunk of the older child begins to broaden at the hips and shoulders and waistline develops.

3.     Primary sex characteristic in the growth and development of the sex organs - the gonads or testes and that of the penis in male. For girls it is the first menstrual flow. This is the discharge of blood, mucus and broken down cell tissues from the uterus that will occur every twenty - eight days.