Puberty Flashcards
1
Q
What is adrenarche?
A
Adrenarche is the term for the maturational increase in adrenal androgen production that normally becomes biochemically apparent by a rise in serum levels of the androgen precursor dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DHEAS) at approximately six years of age in both girls and boys. It is characterized by the production of increasing amounts of androgen precursors and smaller amounts of potent androgens by the zone reticularis of the adrenal cortex, which contributes to the development of pubic hair, sebaceous glands, and apocrine (sweat) glands.
