Adolescence and puberty Flashcards
What is growth due to
What is adolescence
Gonadal steroids (in particular androgens)
+ other hormones such as GH (somatotrophin) from anterior pit.
Adolescence: Adolescence refers to the period of development that occurs between ages 12-18 years.
How does the onset of puberty occur
Theories
- Maturation of the CNS affecting GnRH neurones (increased pulsatile release)
- Altered set point to gonadal steroid negative feedback
What might trigger maturation of CNS
Unclear….
BUT THERE IS EARLIER PUBERTY NOW:
Improved health care
Improved socio-economic factors (photoperiod and nutrition)
Outline Altered set point to gonadal steroid negative feedback
Initially:
- Low gonadal steroids
- But high sensitivity to these in negative feedback on pituitary/hypothalamus
- So low gonadotrophins
THEN, the sensitivity of the hypothalamus/pituitary to the gonadal secretions reduces, so
- Unchanged gonadal steroids results in
- Increased gonadotrophins (because the same amount of gonadal hormone has a lower negative feedback action because of the reduced sensitivity of the hypothalamus and pituitary)
- Gonadal hormones therefore increase (because of the increased GnRH and gonadotrophins)
The feedback further decreases until there are adult levels, whihc involve much higher hormone leves
What is menarche
the first occurrence of menstruation.
What has happened to age at menarche
Evidence that age at menarche has decreased over the last 150 years. Over the last 3-4 decades it seems to have levelled off – or it could even be increasing again.
How has body weight at menarche changed?
body weight at menarche has remained relatively constant at approximately 47kg.
What is adrenarche and what is it due to
Role: It’s like the precurosr to puberty
Rise in adrenal 19- carbon steroid production,
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS)
When is adrenarche in males and females
- Females: 6-9 years
* Males: 7-10 years
T/F adrenarche marks the beginning of puberty
F… it’s the precursor to it.
What does adrenarche manifest as
• Manifests clinically as the appearance of axillary and pubic hair,
usually about age 8
Outline endocrinology of adrenarche
HPA axis
CNS and Hypothalamus stimulated leading to CRH
CRH leads to adenohypophysis ACTH release.
ACTH causes DHEA and DHEAS release from the zona reticularis
Leads to axillary, groin hair and acne
Outline endocrinology of puberty
HPG (not HPA like adrenarche)
CNS and hypothalamus releasing GnRH, pituitary releases LH/FSH. Menarche/sperm production and release of androgen and estrogen
What do oestrogen and androgen cause development of
ANDROGEN:
- penis, pubic hair and testes
- Also pubic, armpit hair and acne
ESTROGEN:
-breasts, ovaries, uterus
Why can extremely skinny women have periods stopping
Because leptin stimulates release of GnRH from the hypothalamus VIA increased kisspeptin release (which stimulates the GnRH neurones)
So if low leptin due to low body fat, then periods stop
Is menarche a single event
It is defined as such,
however periods take 3 cycles to be classed as fully established, so not clear cut
When do girls and boys have their growth spurts
Is this reflective of the rest of their development
Girls around age 12/13
Boys arund 15
Yes- girls are around 2 years ahead developmentally!
The boy growth spurt is also larger than the girls
What is the tanner scale
Scale to assess how advanced puberty is.
Based on:
i. Penile development
ii Breast development
iii. Growth of pubic hair
Each of these is rated 1-5 for development. 1 is pre-pubertyal and 5 is fully developed
What has the earlier age of puberty been down to
What is the normal age of puberty commencing for boys and girls
Improvement of diet
However obesity and overweight can lead to early onset of puberty
The average age for girls to begin puberty is 11, while for boys the average age is 12
Psychological changes in puberty
Cognition e.g. morality
Identity
Increased self-awareness
Affect expression and regulation (i.e. can you speak about how you feel, and then turn off those feelings)
T/F the psychological and biological development are not interlinked
F they are highly interrelated
Some hormones are required for proper cognition (oxytocin)
T/F menarche is early in the developmental process
F it’s quite late (the child is quite developed at this point)
Social changes in puberty
• Family - parental surveillance, confiding
Peers • Increased importance • More complex & hierarchical • More sensitive to acceptance & rejection • Romantic relationships
Social role- education, occupation etc.
What changes in terms of importance of reationships in puberty
Changes from importance of parents to peers.
This is why some autism traits are only realised in puberty, when it is important to develop relationships with those outside of family when peers become primary relationships
Why is onset of mental health conditions often in pubery
Again because of this change in primary relationship from parents to support
And social support strognly associated with metnal health
And more sensitive to acceptance and rejection (because of infreased self awareness)
What are the wider cultural influences on puberty
• School
• Work
• Culture (“teen” subculture; migration/culture)
• Social influences eg unemployment, poverty/affluence, housing,
neighbourhood effects
What happens with brain during development
Grey matter volume = decreases from 6 yrs to adolescence & there is a linear increase in white matter at about 20 years
Outline developmental mismatch
Adolescence is a time of risk taking
Yes because of increased Regulatory/ Cognitive
control
Integration of affect
But Sensation seeking activity sharpy increases up to 17 years old and then decreases again
The area between these two lines is the risk taking activity