The Anatomy of Puberty… from the Inside-Out from Top-to-Bottom from Beginning-to-End Everything you ever wanted to know about puberty…but were afraid to ask December 2010 Richard E. Kreipe, MD, FAAP Division of Adolescent Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital University of Rochester Medical Center ACT for Youth Center of Excellence Cornell University Family Life Development Center Cornell University Cooperative Extension of New York City New York State Center for School Safety University of Rochester Medical Center Div. of Adolescent Medicine Text Copyright © 2010 by ACT for Youth Center of Excellence
Outline Define terms related to puberty Key internal and external changes in body Common concerns and normal variants Resources
Terms Related to Puberty Gland: organ that produces hormones Hormones: chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream to affect other part(s) of the body Hypothalamus: gland deep in brain that makes hormones to stimulate the pituitary Pituitary: small gland below hypothalamus that makes hormones (FSH, LH) stimulating sex glands
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Terms Related to Puberty Gland: organ that produces hormones Hormones: chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream to affect other part(s) of the body Hypothalamus: gland deep in brain that makes hormones to stimulate the pituitary Pituitary: small gland below hypothalamus that makes hormones (FSH, LH) stimulating sex glands Sex glands (gonads) Ovary: eggs; estrogen, progesterone Testicles (testes): sperm; testosterone Reproductive organs Uterus (womb) →Vagina → Vulva (labia or lips) Penis and Scrotum (sac or bag)
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Physical Changes of Puberty in Males
Physical Changes of Puberty in Females
Major Features of Puberty Hormone changes Sex organ changes (reproductive capacity) Secondary sex characteristics Organ changes (eg lymphoid; brain maturation) Growth Spurt Weight increase (Girls fat; Boys lean)
Between 10 and 14 years of age, the average girl’s weight increases from 72 to 112 pounds, a total of 40 pounds!
Additional Features of Puberty Sequence of events Females Breast development Growth spurt Menses Males Testicles enlarge Penis enlarges Growth spurt Onset and Tempo (Velocity) Early developers grow more quickly in height than late developers
Average Age for Pubertal Events cm/yr 9.5 cm/yr Peak Height Velocity Menses Breast Black 9 yo; White 10 yo Testes Penis 2 3
Common Adolescent Concerns About Puberty Onset Too early Too late Height Too short Too tall Acne, Body Odor Menstrual periods Irregular periods normal Ovulation: Pregnancy possible Nocturnal emissions “Wet Dreams” Ejaculation: Release of sperm
Resources Stages of Adolescent Development American Academy of Pediatrics—Healthy Children Website puberty/Pages/default.aspx puberty/Pages/default.aspx Young Men’s Health.Org Young Women’s Health.Org
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