Puberty

Question 1

What is puberty characterised by changes in?

Answer 1

• Reproductive organs
• Secondary sex characteristics
• Body size/shape
• Relative proportions of muscle, fat and bone
• Various physiological functions

Question 2

Puberty originally marked the appearance of pubic hair but what period of time does it refer to now?

Answer 2

When prostate/testes/seminal vesicles or the uterus/vagina enlarge

Question 3

What reset during puberty?

Answer 3

Gonadostat (hypothalamus/pituitary/gonads)

Question 4

Difference between adolescence and puberty

Answer 4

Adolescence: Psychological and behavioural changes
Puberty: Behavioural changes

Question 5

How can you measure the growth seen at puberty?

Answer 5

‘distance curves’ - total height

‘velocity curves’ - growth rate

Question 6

Causes of precocious puberty

Answer 6

• Tumour in pituitary
• Meningitis
• Thyroid or gonadal disorder
• Inherited

Question 7

Delayed puberty by definition

Answer 7

More than 5 years since start of puberty but not completed

no pubic hair by 14 in girls, 15 in boys

Question 8

Causes of delayed puberty

Answer 8

• Eating disorders
• Excessive exercise
• Chronic illnesses
• GPR54 triggers hormonal cascade
• Androgen insensitivity syndrome