Adolescence and puberty


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Adolescence and puberty

Adolescence and puberty: The period of transition of physical and mental human development from childhood to adulthood is called adolescence. An adolescent is neither a child not an adult. Puberty is the start of the time when a boy is biologically ready to become a father and a girl is biologically ready to become a mother. The average onset of puberty is at 10 years of age for girls and 12 years for boys.

Adolescence:

Adolescence is a period or stage of growing to maturity. It occurs after childhood and before adulthood. it is characterized by a tremendous pace in growth and change that is second only to that of infancy. Growing up is a natural and ongoing process in one's life & growth begins from the day one is born. During adolescence a young person begins to explore their sexuality making access to sexual and reproductive health education and services, a necessity for their well-being.

You must have seen a sudden increase in height in some of the boys or girls of your class. OR You must have seen hairy line above the lips in boys? Have you ever wondered, what are these changes all about?

These changes are all about due to phase of adolescence. Boys and girls are growing up during this phase. Upon crossing the age of 10 or 11. There is a sudden spurt in growth that becomes  noticeable. Hence, the period of life, when the body undergoes certain noticeable changes, leading to reproductive maturity is called adolescence. It begins after the age of 11 and lasts upto 18 to 19 years  of age.

Adolescents are also called as teenagers  because the period covers the teens (13 to 18 or 19 years of age). The human body undergoes several changes during adolescence . These changes markt the onest of puberty.

Is puberty and adolescence the same thing?

No. Puberty is the start of the time when  boy is biologically ready to become a father and a girl is biologically ready to become a mother. It basically refers to the bodily changes of sexual maturation rather than psychological and cultural aspects of adolescence.

Puberty:

Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body becomes an adult and capable of reproduction. It occurs at about age 12 in girls and age 14 in boys. Puberty is characterized by maturing of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics in boys, and in girls, onset of mensturation. Both sexes experience a swift increase in body size and changes in body shape and composition. Puberty marks the beginning of adolescence and ends when an adolescent reaches reproductive maturity.

Sample Questions
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Question : 1

Identify the correct statements:

Adolescence includes :

(a) Adolescents are also called as teenagers 

(b) Boys and girls are growing up during this phase.

(c) An adolescent is neither a child not an adult.

(d) It begins after the age of 11 and keep changing till the end of life.

Right Option : C
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Explanation
Question : 2

Gametes in human beings are ________________________

Right Option : B
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Question : 3

During adolescence, several changes occur in the human body. Mark one change associated with sexual maturation in boys :

Right Option : C
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Explanation
 
 
 
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