Changes During Puberty For Boys and Girls

During puberty certain physical changes occur which transform the typical child's body shape into that of an adult.
Girls Body hair grows under the arms and pubic hair covers the surface of the body round the vulva.
Fat is laid down over the hips and thighs and round the chest and breasts.
The breasts and nipples develop.
A growth spurt results in increased height.
The ovaries begin to develop ripened egg cells, which are shed every month during menstruation (periods).
Boys The penis and testes grow.
Body hair appears under the arms and on the chest and face, and pubic hair grows round the penis and testes.
The shoulders broaden and the muscles of the arms and chest develop. Pelvic bones grow at a slower rate, giving slimmer hips.
Bone development makes the face less rounded and the feet and hands more angular.
The larynx (voice box) grows larger and the voice deepens.

A growth spurt results in increased height. Puberty in both sexes is controlled by hormones.

These are powerful chemicals which circulate in the blood and control growth and metabolism; they are produced by the endocrine system, which is made up of various glands that each produce and secrete their own particular hormone.

The pituitary gland is at the base of the brain. It produces the growth hormone, stimulates and regulates the working of the sex organs, and helps to control the other endocrine glands.
It is known as the master gland.
The adrenal glands lie on top of the kidneys, and secrete adrenaline when certain emotions are aroused.

The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which helps to keep the correct level of sugar in the blood.

The thyroid gland, situated just below the voice box, produces the hormone thyroxin which controls the energy output of the body and the rate at which food is converted into energy.
The sex hormones are produced by the sex glands. The female ovaries produce oestrogen and progesterone and the male testes produce testosterone. The body cannot function correctly if the glands are not producing the correct level of hormones.

Some glands depend upon others to control them, so if one gland is not working properly it can affect others.
As well as stimulating physical sexual development during puberty, the hormones also activate emotional change. Until these changes have levelled out and the adolescent has learnt to control his or her emotions, there will be peaks of feeling when he or she may be depressed, excited, happy, bored, etc.

These extremes of feeling are bewildering to adolescents and to their families, and can be difficult to cope with.

It is a time when great patience and understanding are needed, always remembering that it is a stage that will pass eventually.