Adolescence and Puberty: Change, Sexual Characters & Hormonal Control

Too often you must have noticed your parents and relatives asking you to be more responsible because you are an ‘adolescent’ now! What does that mean? Is it anything more than your age just increasing over the years? A lot more, to be honest! You must have noticed various changes in your body and also your voice when you entered your teenage. Why does all that happen? In this chapter, we will cover adolescence and puberty. This will help you understand your ‘ageing’ better.

What are adolescence and puberty?

Adolescence is the period of life when many changes take place in the body; leading to reproductive maturity. Adolescence begins at around 10 years of age and lasts till you are 18 or 19 years of age. The years during adolescence period are counted as ‘teen’, .e.g. thirteen, fourteen and fifteen. Hence, this period is also called teenage.

The process of changes during adolescence period is what we call puberty. Beginning of puberty marks the beginning of adolescence. The end of adolescence or puberty marks the completion of reproductive maturity. So, what are the changes that you may notice in your puberty?

Changes at Puberty

Too often, you can notice very prominent changes in your own body as well your friends‘. This is all because of puberty.

Source: FuseSchool

Increase in Height: The most apparent change during puberty is the sudden increase in height. Long bones grow rapidly. Hence, the height of a person increases rapidly during this period. Initially, girls grow faster than boys but ultimately boys are usually taller than girls. The maximum height is attained by 18 years of age.
Change in Body Shape: The body of a boy becomes more muscular. His shoulders become wide and the waist becomes narrow. The body of a girl becomes wider below waist and narrower at the shoulder.
Voice Change: A boy’s voice becomes deep, and the childlike voice is first replaced by a hoarse voice. This happens because the voice is said to crack. Gradually, the voice becomes deep. The change in voice happens because voice box in a boy becomes larger. Girl’s voice is usually high pitched.
Increased Activity of Sweat and Sebaceous Glands: Secretion from sweat and sebaceous glands increases during adolescence. Due to this, some teenagers may suffer from acne and pimples.
Development of Sex Organs: In boys, testes begin to produce sperms. Testis and penis develop completely. In girls, ovaries enlarge and eggs begin to mature. Ovaries start releasing a mature egg.
Reaching Mental, Intellectual and Emotional Maturity: These changes also have a profound effect on a person’s way of thinking. Teenagers spend more time on thinking than earlier. Thus, many rapid changes in the body may create a sense of insecurity in most of the teenagers. But, teenagers should not worry because these are natural changes. They will definitely go away with time.
Adam’s Apple: Enlargement of voice box is apparent as a prominent protrusion in the neck. This protrusion is called Adam’s apple.

Secondary Sexual Characters

Secondary sexual characters help in distinguishing a male from a female. Sexual dimorphism is the marked difference between male and female of a species because of apparent physical traits. Some common secondary sexual characters include:

Secondary Sexual Characters in Boys: Facial hairs, deep voice and hair on chest.
Secondary Sexual Characters in Girls: Enlargement of breasts and high pitched voice.
Some common characters in girls and boys: Hair under armpits, hair in the pubic region.

Hormonal Control

Hormones control these changes in the adolescent period. The endocrine glands secrete these hormones. Hormones play important role in various metabolic activities.

In boys, testis secretes the hormone testosterone. This hormone is responsible for many changes in boys.
In girls, ovaries secrete the hormone estrogen. This is responsible for the development of breasts.

The action of these hormones is under the control of a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. Another hormone from pituitary gland stimulates the maturation of eggs and production of sperms. Endocrine glands are ductless glands; which means that a hormone reaches the target site through the bloodstream.

Solved Example

Question: Explain the reproductive phase of life in humans.

Answer: The reproductive phase begins with the onset of puberty and it happens at around the same age in boys and girls. But, the reproductive phase in men lasts much longer than in females. Reproductive phase in women lasts till about 50 years of age. Reproductive phase in men lasts even beyond 60 years of age.

Menstruation: In females, the ovaries release one egg during each month. After that, the uterus develops a thickening to support a foetus to prepare for a possible pregnancy. If fertilization does not take place; egg and thickening in the uterus break in small fragments. This results in bleeding through the vagina for some days. Menstruation is the bleeding (through the vagina) at the end of the menstrual cycle.
Menstrual Cycle: Menstrual cycle refers to the events which begin with the release of an egg and end in shedding off the egg. A menstrual cycle is usually of 28 to 30 days.
Menarche: The first menstrual bleeding in a girl’s life is called menarche. Menarche marks the beginning of puberty in girls.
Menopause: Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle. This happens at around 45 – 50 years of age. Menopause marks the end of the reproductive phase.

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