Chapter 9 - Adolescence: Body and Mind

Question 1

Puberty

Answer 1

Time between the first onrush of hormones and full adult physical development. Usually lasts 3-5 years, but many more years are required to achieve psychosocial maturity.

Question 2

Menarche

Answer 2

Girl’s first menstrual period, around age 13.

Question 3

Spermarche

Answer 3

Boy’s first ejaculation of sperm, around age 13

Question 4

Hormone

Answer 4

Organic chemical substance produced by one body tissue and conveyed via the bloodstream to another to affect some physiological function.

Question 5

Pituitary

Answer 5

Gland in the brain that responds to a signal from the hypothalamus by producing many hormones, including those that regulate growth and control other glands (sex, adrenal glands)

Question 6

Adrenal Glands

Answer 6

2 glands above the kidneys that produce hormones, ex: stress hormones

Question 7

HPA Axis

Answer 7

Sequence of hormone production that originates in the hypothalamus, moves to the pituitary, and then the adrenal glands.

Question 8

HPG Axis

Answer 8

Sequence of hormone production that originates in the hypothalamus, moves to the pituitary, and then the gonads.

Question 9

Estradiol

Answer 9

Sex hormone, considered the chief estrogen. Made more by females than males.

Question 10

Testosterone

Answer 10

Sex hormone, the best known of the androgens (male hormones); secreted more by males than females

Question 11

Circadian Rhythm

Answer 11

Day-night cycle of biological activity that occurs approximately every 24 hours.

Question 12

HPA causes ________ ________, which makes adolescents tired in the morning but awake and hungry at night.

Answer 12

Phase delay

Question 13

Precocious Puberty

Answer 13

Development before age 8

Question 14

2/3 of the variation in puberty ages is due to…

Answer 14

genetics

Question 15

Leptin

Answer 15

Hormone that affects appetite and is believed to affect the onset of puberty. Leptin levels increase during childhood and peak at age 12.

Question 16

Early and late puberty has _____________ emotional effects.

Answer 16

Negative

Question 17

Growth spurt

Answer 17

The relatively sudden and rapid physical growth that occurs during puberty. Each body part increases in size on a schedule: weight usually precedes height, growth and limbs usually precedes growth of the torso.

Question 18

Primary Sex Characteristics

Answer 18

Parts of the body directly involved in reproduction (vagina, uterus, ovaries, testicles, penis)

Question 19

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Answer 19

Physical traits not directly involved in reproduction but indicate sexual maturity (man’s beard, woman’s breasts)

Question 20

Body Image

Answer 20

Person’s idea of how his or her body looks

Question 21

Anorexia Nervosa

Answer 21

Eating disorder characterized by severe calorie restriction and the fear of being fat. Affected individuals undereat, or overeat and then overexercise or purge, depriving their vital organs of nutrition. Usually they have a BMI under 17. Can be fatal.

Question 22

Bulimia Nervosa

Answer 22

Eating disorder characterized by binge eating and subsequent purging, usually by induced vomiting and/or use of laxatives

Question 23

What matures before the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 23

The limbic system

Question 24

The reward part of the brain is _____________ than the inhibitory part of the brain

Answer 24

Stronger

Question 25

Adolescent Egocentrism

Answer 25

Characteristic of adolescent thinking that leads young people (ages 10-13) to focus on themselves to the exclusion of others.

Question 26

Personal Fable

Answer 26

Aspect of adolescent egocentrism characterized by an adolescent’s belief that their thoughts, feelings, and experiences are unique, more wonderful or awful than anyone else’s.