PUBERTY, HEALTH, AND BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS Chapter 2 Flashcards
Powerful chemicals secreted by
the endocrine glands and carried through the
body by the bloodstream.
hormones
The main class of male sex hormones.
androgens
The main class of female sex hormones.
estrogens
A structure in the brain that interacts with the pituitary gland to monitor the bodily regulation of hormones.
Hypothalamus:
It interacts with the pituitary gland to
influence growth.
Thyroid gland:
This master gland produces hormones that stimulate other glands. It also influences growth by producing growth hormones; it sends gonadotropins to the testes and ovaries and a thyroid-stimulating
hormone to the thyroid gland. It sends a hormone to the adrenal gland as well.
Pituitary:
It interacts with the pituitary gland and likely plays
a role in pubertal development, but less is known about its function than about sex glands. Recent research, however, suggests it may be involved in adolescent behavior, particularly for boys.
Adrenal gland:
These consist of the testes in males and the ovaries in females. The sex glands are strongly involved in the appearance of secondary sex characteristics, such as facial hair in males and breast development in females. The general class of hormones called estrogens is dominant in females, while androgens are dominant in males. More specifcally, testosterone in males and estradiol in females are key hormones in pubertal development.
The gonads, or sex glands:
Puberty phase involving
hormonal changes in the adrenal glands,
which are located just above the kidneys.
These changes occur from about 6 to 9 years
of age in girls and about one year later in
boys, before what is generally considered the
beginning of puberty.
adrenarche
Puberty phase involving the
maturation of primary sexual characteristics
(ovaries in females, testes in males) and
secondary sexual characteristics (pubic hair,
breast and genital development). This period
follows adrenarche by about two years and is
what most people think of as puberty.
gonadarche
A girl’s first menstrual period.
menarche
A boy’s first ejaculation of semen.
spermarche
On average,
the peak of the__________ that characterizes
pubertal changes occurs two years earlier for
girls (11½) than for boys (13½).
PUBERTAL GROWTH SPURT.
precocious puberty The very early onset and
rapid progression of puberty.
secular trends Patterns of the onset of
puberty over historical time, especially across
generations.
precocious puberty
Patterns of the onset of
puberty over historical time, especially across
generations.
secular trends
