Puberty and Health

Question 1

Define puberty

Answer 1

a period of rapid physical maturation involving hormonal/bodily changes that occur in early adolescence

Question 2

What factors are involved in puberty? (3)

Answer 2

Hormonal (endocrine) changes
Weight & body fat
Leptin

Question 3

What is estradiol and its effects (3)?

Answer 3

• an estrogen (female sex hormone)
• breast development
• uterine development
• skeletal changes

Question 4

What organs make up the endocrine system? (5)

Answer 4

Mainly:
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- Gonads

and also:
- Thyroid gland
- Adrenal glands

Question 5

How does the pituitary gland contribute to puberty? (3)

Answer 5

• sends signals via gonadotropins to the testes and ovaries to produce testosterone and estradiol respectively
• detects optimal level of hormones and maintains it
• produces growth hormones

Question 6

Explain Adrenarche (2)

Answer 6

• adrenal glands secrete adrenal androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone
  (dehydro-epian-drosterone)
• begins at ages 6-9 in girls and ages 7-10 in boys

Question 7

Explain Gonadarche (2)

Answer 7

• maturation of primary & secondary sexual characteristics
• begins at ages 9-10 in girls and ages 10-11 in boys

Question 8

Distinguish between menarche and spermarche (2)

Answer 8

Menarche
- first menstrual period
- occurs mid-late gonadarche

Spermarche
- first ejaculation of semen
- occurs early-mid gonadarche

Question 9

What is leptin?

Answer 9

a hormone that signals the beginning of puberty and regulates energy intake and expenditure

Question 10

How does birth-weight affect menarche?

Answer 10

Low birth-weight causes menarche to come earlier

Question 11

What is precocious puberty?
How is it treated?

Answer 11

• very early onset and rapid progression of puberty
• medically suppressing gonadotropic secretions

Question 12

Explain the Goodness of Fit Hypothesis (4)

Answer 12

early maturing boys perceive themselves more positively

early maturing girls experience more problems

late maturing boys have a stronger sense of identity in their 30s

late maturing girls are later more satisfied with body image

Question 13

What is an neurobiological explanation for risk-taking behaviour in adolescents?

Answer 13

the prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and self control matures later than the amygdala, which is involved in emotion

Question 14

What are the 3 leading causes of death in adolescents/emerging adults?

Answer 14

• Unintentional injuries due to risky driving habits
• Homicide
• Suicide (mostly in males)

Question 15

What are the benefits of regular exercise? (3)

Answer 15

• improves stress and mental health
• improves self-image & self-esteem
• less risky behaviour (e.g., drug use)