Chapter Two: Biological foundations - Key Terms Flashcards
Adolescent growth spurt
The rapid increase in height that takes place at the beginning of puberty
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
The hormone that causes the adrenal glands to increase androgen production.
Age-graded
Organized by age, for example in schools.
Androgens
The sex hormones that have especially high levels in males from puberty onwards and are mostly responsible for male primary and secondary sex characteristics.
Areola
Area surrounding the nipple on the breast; enlarges at puberty.
Asynchronicity
Uneven growth of different parts of the body during puberty.
Body mass index (BMI)
A ratio of height to weight; BMI threshold for obesity are determined by medical authorities and vary depending on age group.
Breast buds
The first slight enlargement of the breast and girls at Puberty
Cardiac output
A measure of the quantity of blood pumped by the heart
Clitoris
Part of the vulva in which females’ sexual sensations are concentrated.
Endocrine system
A network of glands in the body. Through hormones, the glance coordinate their functioning and affect the development and functioning of the body.
Estradiol
The oestrogen most important in pubertal development among girls
Estrogens
The sex hormones that have especially high levels and females from puberty arm and are mostly responsible for female primary and secondary sex characteristics.
Evocative genotype - environment effects
Occur when a person’s inherited characteristics invoke responses from others in their environment
Extremities
The feet, hands, and head.
Feedback loop
System of hormones involving the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the glands, which monitors and adjusts the levels of the sex hormones.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSU)
Along with LH, stimulates the development of gametes and sex hormones in the ovaries and testicles
Gametes
Cells, distinctive to each sex, that are involved in reproduction (egg cells in the ovaries of the female and sperm in the testes of the male).
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Hormone released by the hypothalamus that causes gonadotropins to be released by the pituitary.
Gonadotropins
Hormones (FSH and LH) that stimulate the development of gametes.
Gonads
The ovaries and testicles. Also known as the sex glands.
Health promotion
Efforts to do this health problems and young people through encouraged changes in the behaviours that put young people at risk
Hormones
Chemicals, released by the glands of the endocrine system, that affect the development and functioning of the body, including development during puberty
Hypothalamus
the “master gland,” located in the lower part of the brain beneath the cortex, that affects a wide range of physiological and psychological functioning and stimulates and regulates the production of hormones by other glands, including the ones involved in the initiation of puberty
Incest taboo
The prohibition on sexual relations between family members. Believed to be biologically-based, as children born to closely related parents are at high risk for genetic disorders.
Labia Majorca
Part of the vulva; Latin for “large lips”
Labia minora
Part of the vulva; Latin for “little lips”
Leptin
A protein, produced by fat cells, that signals the hypothalamus to initiate the hormonal changes of puberty
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Along with FSH, stimulates the development of gametes and sex hormones in the ovaries testicles.
Maximum oxygen uptake (VO*2max)
A measure of the ability of the body to take an oxygen and transport it to various organs; peaks in early 20s
Menarche
A girl’s first menstrual period
Mikveh
A ritual bath that Jewish orthodox women are obligated to take a week after their period as a way of cleansing themselves of the impurity believed to be associated with menstruation.
Nature-nurture debate
Debate over the relative importance of Biology and the environment in human development
Ovum
Mature egg that develops from follicle in ovaries about every 28 days
Passive genotype - Environment effects
Situation and biological families that parents provide both jeans and environment for their children, may hinges and environment difficult to separate in their effects on children’s development.
Peak height velocity
The point at which the adolescent growth spurt is at its maximum rate
Pituitary gland
A gland about half an inch long located at the base of the brain that releases gonadotropins as part of the bodies preparation for reproduction
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
The combination of behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms that occur in some females the week before menstruation.
Primary sex characteristics
The production of eggs and sperm and the development of the sex organs
Puberty
The changes in physiology, anatomy, and physical functioning that develop a person into a mature adult biologically and prepare the body for sexual reproduction.
Reaction range
Turn meaning of jeans establish arrange of possible development and environment determines where development takes place within that range.
Secondary sex characteristics
Bodily changes of puberty not directly related to reproduction.
Secular trend
A change in the characteristics of a population overtime
Semenarche
A males first ejaculation
Set point
Optimal level of sex hormones in the body. When this point is reached, responses in the glands of the feedback loop cause the production of sax hormones to be reduced.
Sex hormones
Androgens and estrogens that cause the development of primary and secondary sex characteristics
Spermarche
Beginning of development of sperm in boys’ testicles at puberty.
Testosterone
The androgen most important in pubertal development among boys.
Theory of genotype - environment affects
Theory that both genetics and environment make essential contributions to human development but are difficult to unravel because our genes actually influence the kind of environment we experience.
Vital capacity
The amount of air that can be exhaled after deep breath, which increases rapidly during puberty, especially for boys.
Vulva
External Female sex organs, including the labia majora, labia minora, and the clitoris.
Active genotype - environment effects
Occur when people sit out environments that correspond to their genotypic characteristics
