Puberty (normal and abnormal) Flashcards
What is puberty
The process of becoming sexually mature (fertile)
What is adolescence
The process of rapid physical and physiological maturation between childhood and adulthood
What are the non-pathological influences on the timing of puberty
Genetic: racial, familial, sex. Endocrine pathology: hypothalamo-pituitary, gonadal, adrenal. Environment: socioeconomic, secular trend, light and dark rhythms. Health linked to stress: emotional and physical. Drugs and body composition influence physical
What is menarche onset
Puberty starting
Who have earlier menarche
Those from urban areas and those from a higher socio-economic background
When do boys start puberty compared to girls
One year later
What is the normal puberty range for girls
8-18
When is girls peak growth
9-14
What is the normal puberty range for boys
10-15
What is boys peak growth
10-16
What is a prader orchidometer
It is used to assess testicular volume in young boys. When the beads become yellow it indicates the onset of puberty
Describe the Tanner stages of female development
5 stages of female breast and pubic hair development. Stages 3-4 are intermediate stages
Describe uterine volume between 0-8
Remains fairly constant between 2-1.5ml
Describe uterine volume between 8-14
Uterine volume increases to 40-14ml
What is ovarian volume from 0-5
0.4-1.0 ml
What is ovarian volume from 6-10
0.4-1.9 ml
By the time a girl reaches 16 what is her ovarian volume
1.8-22ml
How do ovaries change post puberty
from 0.6-6 ml
What regulates pubertal changes
Endocrine changes
In females what are aromatides (e.g. LH) converted to
Oestrogen
In men what is LH converted to
Testosterone and FSH used in sperm production
What do the phases of testicular function show
That post-natal boys go through a mini puberty
What effect does the gonadal feedback to the hypothalamic pulse generator have
A powerful inhibitory effect which prevents further production of LH and FSH
What happens to the inhibitory feedback loop at the onset of puberty
It is impaired
What is the gender difference in growth spurt
Girls grow fastest in their first few years of puberty. Girls pubertal peak is two years before boys
What is the relationship between growth hormone secretion and height velocity in puberty
The higher the mean 24-hour GH the greater the height velocity in cm/month
What is the effect of age on skeletal growth proportions
Growth doesn’t affect all parts of the skeleton equally
Describe the critical weight hypothesis
Different races have different critical weights at which menarche will occur. A minimum level of stored, easily mobilised energy is necessary for ovulation and menstrual cycle in girls. Having a minimum level of stored energy makes physiological sense as if you become pregnant it drains energy stores therefore you must have a store to become pregnant