THE 5 MOST PROMINENT BIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ADOLESCENCE - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY - 2024

The biological changes in adolescence starts at puberty stage of physical, psychological and social changes in a person 's life. It is a process that involves a series of changes that will transform a child physically and psychologically into an adult.

Adolescence is one of the fastest phases of human development. The order in which these changes unfold appears to be universal. However, the time and speed of the changes vary between individuals.

Many biological changes take place during the teenage years. The most obvious are physical changes, such as increases in height, the acquisition of muscle mass, the distribution of body fat and the development of sexual characteristics.

The 5 main biological changes in adolescence

1- hormonal changes

Before puberty begins, the body must prepare for the physiological and behavioral changes that are part of becoming an adult.

The average age of onset of puberty is 11 years for girls and 12 years for boys.

Hormones fulfill important functions that will determine the growth and sexual maturity of individuals.

This long process begins with an increase in the production of hormones, growth and sex, which will promote these biological changes.

2- Rapid increase in height and weight

During adolescence, growth is an accelerated process in which rapid increases in height and weight of individuals are observed, caused by the release of growth hormones.

3- Body modifications

There are other significant body modifications during puberty, such as the distribution of fat and muscle mass.

This process is different for girls and boys. There are also changes in the maturation of the bones, which become more resistant.

Before puberty, there are almost no sex differences in the distribution of fat and muscles.

However, as the process progresses, males build muscle mass faster than females, and females, in turn, are likely to generate more body fat than males.

4- Maturation of primary sexual characteristics

Primary sex characters are basically the sex organs a person is born with. These mature throughout adolescence until their owners become individuals capable of reproducing.

In females, changes in primary sexual characteristics involve the growth of the uterus, vagina, and other aspects of the reproductive system.

The effects of sex hormones promote the onset of menstruation, known as menarche. In general, a girl is not fully fertile until several years after menarche.

In boys, the early stages of puberty involve growth of the testicles, scrotum, and penis.

As the penis develops, the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral gland also enlarge.

The first ejaculation of seminal fluid is called spermarchia, and it usually occurs between the ages of 12 and 14. Children are generally fertile before they have an adult appearance.

5- Appearance of secondary sexual characteristics

Secondary sexual characteristics are the traits that appear at puberty differently for men and women.

In women, secondary sexual changes include development of pubic and armpit hair, sweat glands, and widening of the hips.

There is also an increase in breast volume, darkening of the areolas, and elevation of the nipples. In general, women generate a more rounded body.

In men, these changes involve the appearance of pubic, facial, and body hair, the development of a deep voice, tightening of the skin, and further development of the muscles and sweat glands.

Unlike women, men's bodies are generally more angular.

References

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