Puberty Flashcards
1
Q
What is puberty characterised by changes in?
A
- Reproductive organs
- Secondary sex characteristics
- Body size/shape
- Relative proportions of muscle, fat and bone
- Various physiological functions
2
Q
Puberty originally marked the appearance of pubic hair but what period of time does it refer to now?
A
When prostate/testes/seminal vesicles or the uterus/vagina enlarge
3
Q
What reset during puberty?
A
Gonadostat (hypothalamus/pituitary/gonads)
4
Q
Difference between adolescence and puberty
A
Adolescence: Psychological and behavioural changes
Puberty: Behavioural changes
5
Q
How can you measure the growth seen at puberty?
A
‘distance curves’ - total height
‘velocity curves’ - growth rate
6
Q
Causes of precocious puberty
A
- Tumour in pituitary
- Meningitis
- Thyroid or gonadal disorder
- Inherited
7
Q
Delayed puberty by definition
A
More than 5 years since start of puberty but not completed
no pubic hair by 14 in girls, 15 in boys
8
Q
Causes of delayed puberty
A
- Eating disorders
- Excessive exercise
- Chronic illnesses
- GPR54 triggers hormonal cascade
- Androgen insensitivity syndrome
