Puberty Flashcards
What is puberty?
the time where an individual becomes capable of sexual reproduction
Primary Sexual Characteristics
-present at birth
-determined by chromosomes
What are some female primary sexual characteristics?
-thicker vaginal walls
-vaginal secretions
-menarche
What are some male primary sexual characteristics?
-larger prostate
-larger seminal vesicles
- ejaculation
What are the 3 puberty trends?
- age of menarche is decreasing for females
- trends in male puberty are different to measure
- timing of puberty has increased, tempo has decreased
Father absence & female sexual behavior
- a potential critical period in 1st 5-7 years for father’s absence
- stepfathers may increase pubertal development & sexual behaviors
- Early pubertal maturation increases risk of sex & teenage pregnancy
- NOT UNIVERSAL
What is puberty marked by?
-rapid changes in height & weight
-development of primary & secondary sex characteristics
- changes in brain structure & activity
What are secondary sexual characteristics?
-The manifestations of sexual maturity at puberty
What are some examples of secondary sexual characteristics?
- breasts
- facial hair
- voice changes
What does TIMING mean?
the AGE at which puberty begins
What time does puberty start for girls?
8-13 years old
What time does puberty start for boys?
9-14 years old
What does TEMPO mean?
the RATE at which maturation occurs
What are the tempo rates for girls and boys?
GIRLS= 1.5 - 6 yrs
BOYS= 2 - 5 yrs
When does Adrenarche occur?
when the adrenal glands begin to occur
What are some symptoms that might occur when adrenarche occurs?
- start feeling more attracted towards others
- body odor
What system releases sex hormones?
HPG axis
What does the HPG stand for?
hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal
What is the adrenal gland sensitive to?
Stress
What can stress do to the adrenal glands?
- it can increase the vulnerability to mental health disorders
- chronic cortisol leads to brain cell death
What can happen to early maturers?
- Males have better emotional well-being but can engage in more risky behavior
- females associate with older peers
- can be the target of social aggression for other females
- greater risk of emotional difficulties, anxiety & depression
What can happen to late maturers?
MALES
- at greater risk for peer victimization
- more likely to develop depression in adulthood
FEMALES
- more likely to continue education
What happens during Gonadrache?
- the mature HPG axis begins to stimulate sex hormones to promote physical changes in puberty
What chemical stimulates puberty?
Kisspeptin