puberty

Question 1

what age does puberty normally occur in boys

Answer 1

12-16

Question 2

what age does puberty normally occur in girls

Answer 2

8-12

Question 3

how long does puberty take

Answer 3

approx 5 years

Question 4

what is a marker of puberty in boys

Answer 4

first ejaculation- usually at night

Question 5

what is adrenarche

Answer 5

increase in adrenal androgens at about 8 years

causes growth of pubic and axillary hair

Question 6

what is gonardarche

Answer 6

rising levels of gonadal steroids in response to gonadotropin hormones

Question 7

what causes stimulation of seminiferous tubules and testosterone secretion

Answer 7

gonadotropin hormones

Question 8

what hormones control puberty in boys

Answer 8

testosterone and DTH

Question 9

what are the signs of puberty in boys

Answer 9

hair
laryngeal growth- voice deepens
secretion of skin oil glands 
masculine fat distribution 
bone growth 
closure of epiphyseal plates
muscle synthesis 
erythropoeitin stimulates higher haematocrit

Question 10

what are the features of puberty in girls

Answer 10

increased GnRH

stimulates follicle development and oestrogen

Question 11

describe adolescent growth spurts

Answer 11

2 years later in boys
dependant on several hormones- androgens, growth hormones and thyroid

boys grow faster and for longer and start taller

girls have bigger hips and boys have bigger shoulders

Question 12

what is peak height velocity

Answer 12

girls- 9 cm/year

boys 10cm/ year

Question 13

when does change in body composition occur

Answer 13

6 years in girls and 9 in boys

Question 14

what controls breast development and growth of genitalia

Answer 14

ovarian oestrodiol

Question 15

what controls growth of female body hair

Answer 15

androgen converted to dihydrotestosterone

Question 16

what does virilisation mean

Answer 16

inappropriate male secondary sexual characteristics

Question 17

what does testicular testosterone do

Answer 17

initiates growth of testes and darkening of scrotum
growth of penis
facial hair and larynx growth

Question 18

what is the trigger for female puberty

Answer 18

pulsatile release of GnRH from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituritary at night

Question 19

what might cause delayed or precocious puberty

Answer 19

hypothalamin or pituritary lesion

Question 20

what weight must a girl be in order to reach menarche

Answer 20

47kg

Question 21

what is the role of leptin in female puberty

Answer 21

may trigger GNRH
secreted by adipocytes so a measure of fatness
acts on the hypothalamus
rises during puberty and is needed in order to enter puberty

Question 22

what can cause early menarche

Answer 22

lower socioeconomic status 
nutrition 
abnormal growth - prematurity followed by obesity 
absence of a father 
stressful environment 
genetics

Question 23

what is early menarche a predictor of

Answer 23

metabolic syndrome leading to diabetes and CVD
breast cancer
risky sexual behavoiur
depression 
increase all cause mortality

Question 24

describe fertility of girls

Answer 24

irregular and anovulatory with short luteal phase

Question 25

what is the climacteric age

Answer 25

cycles become irregular as women approach menopause - age 40

Question 26

what are the features of menopause

Answer 26

diminished follicle supply

follicles become insensitive to gonadotropins

Question 27

what tissues atrophy in menopause

Answer 27

oestrogen dependant tissues
breast, uterus, vagina, bladder, urethra
skin
bone

Question 28

why do post menopausal women have an increased risk of thrombosis

Answer 28

increased LDL

Question 29

what causes hirsutism in menopausal women

Answer 29

increase in adrenal androgens

Question 30

what are some psychological symptoms of menopause

Answer 30

loss of libido, depression, anxiety, mental confusion

Question 31

describe ‘male menopause’

Answer 31

gradual reproductive deteriotation with increasing age
reduction in volume of semen and sperm quality
increase in congenital abnormality of children
ED
starts approx 40 yo