Reaching the Age of Adolescence

Adolescence
Adolescence is the period of physical and psychological
development from the childhood to adult. Before this period,
the gonads of both the sexes are dormant. They are stimulated
by gonadotropins from the pituitary, which brings about the
final maturation of the reproductive system.
Puberty
● This is the period of sexual maturation. Growth is a
natural process. It begins from the day you are born, but
upon crossing the age of or 11, there is a sudden spurt in
growth that becomes noticeable.
● The period of life, when the body undergoes certain
noticeable changes, leading to reproductive maturity called adolescence. It begins after the age of
11 and lasts upto 8 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
mark the onset of puberty.
● 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 mother. It basically refers to the bodily changes of sexual
maturation rather than psychological and social transition from childhood to adulthood. It
generally overlaps the period of puberty.
● Puberty ends when an adolescent reaches
reproductive maturity. The pituitary gland at this stage
is highly active. In addition to it, the gonads also
become very active. The hormones secreted by the
glands activate a series of changes which bring in
physical and mental development.
∙ During adolescence, there is an increase in
testosterone, changes in the ratio of excitatory and
inhibitory neutrotrasmitters and the physical
restructuring of the brain.
∙ Around the age of 20, the transmitters start to decrease
and the inhibitory transmitters start to increase. Thus,
more adult-like personality traits emerge.

Changes at Puberty:
Increase in Height
39 Reaching the Age of Adolescence
∙ At this stage, the physical development takes place at a rapid pace. Specially at the age of 13 in
girls and 15 in boys, the development of height is the maximum.
∙ At this time the long bones, that is the bone of the arms and the legs elongate and make a
person tall. By about 18 years of age, both girls and boys reach their maximum height. The rate
of growth in height varies in different individuals. Some may grow suddenly at puberty and
then slow down, while others may grow gradually. All parts of body do not grow at same rate.
Calculation for full height
Age in Years % of full height
Boys Girls
8 72% 77%
9 75% 81%
10 78% 84%
11 81% 88%
12 84% 91%
13 88% 95%
14 92% 98%
15 95% 99%
16 98% 99.5%
17 99% 100%
18 100% 100%

Calculation for full height (cm)

Example:
A boy is 9 years old and 120 cm tall. At the end of the growth period he is likely to be

Showing % age of height with age

∙ Height of an individual is more or less similar to some of their family members. This is
because height depends on the genes inherited from parents.
∙ Height also depends on the food which an individual takes during these growing years.
Balanced diet and nutritional food should be taken during this phase. This helps the bones,
muscles and other parts of the body get adequate nourishment for growth.

Change in Body Shape:

∙ During adolescence, boys and girls experience various physical changes. Muscular
development is one of them. In boys, the shoulder girdle grows more than hip girdle while in

Biology 40 Class VIII

 girls hip girdle becomes wider than shoulder girdle. Thus, changes occurring in adolescent
boys and girls are different. In boys, the muscles of the body grow more prominently than in
the girls. During puberty,
In boys – (i) The shoulders becomes broader
(ii) The chest becomes wider
(iii) The body becomes more muscular
In girls – (i) The pelvic region widens
(ii) Hips get broaden
(iii) Breasts develop and increase in size. The mammary glands (milk secretion
glands) develop inside the breasts.
Change in Voice:
∙ During adolescence, change of voice occurs. In boys, voice becomes deep and harsh and of
low pitch, while in girls high pitch voice develops.
∙ Voice is generated by vocal cords. Inside the larynx, two pairs of horizontal folds in the
mucous membrane extend inwards from the lateral walls. The lower folds are ‘true vocal
cords’. They are responsible for vocal sounds, which are created when air is forced between
these folds, causing them to vibrate from side to side. This action generates sound waves,
which can be formed into words by changing the shape of the pharynx and oral cavity and by
using the tongue and lips.
∙ Changing the tension on the vocal cords controls the pitch
of the voice. Increasing the tension produces a higher pitch
and decreasing the tension creates a lower pitch.
∙ The growing larynx in boys can be seen as a protruding part
of the throat called ‘Adam’s apple’. In girls, the larynx is
hardly visible from the outside because of its small size.
∙ In adolescent boys, sometimes, the muscles of the growing
voice box [larynx] go out of control and the voice becomes
hoarse. This state may remains for a few days or weeks, Adam’s apple in a grown up
after which the voice becomes normal. boy

Increased activity of sweat and sebaceous glands:

∙ During puberty, the secretion of sweat glands and sebaceous glands [oil glands] increase.
∙ Sweat glands are wide spread in the skin. Each gland consists of a tiny tube that originates as a
ball-shaped coil in the deeper dermis. Sweat glands produce sweat to regulate the body
temperature.

41 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

∙ Sebaceous glands contain groups of specialized
epithelial cells and are usually associated with
hair follicles. They secrete sebum into hair
follicles through short ducts and helps keep the
hair and the skin soft, pliable and relatively
waterproof.
∙ In the teenage, a disorder of sebaceous glands
called ‘acne’ is common. Over active and
inflamed glands become plugged and
surrounded by small red elevation containing Normal Skin
blackheads or pimples.
Development of Sex Organs
∙ At puberty, the sex organs develop. Male sex organs like the testes and penis develop
completely. The testes also begin to produce sperms. In girls, the ovaries enlarge and eggs
begin to mature. Also ovaries start releasing mature eggs.

Male and Female reproductive organs

Reaching Mental, Intellectual and Emotional Maturity:
∙ During this period, brain has greatest capacity for learning.
∙ Power of judgement develops.
∙ Power of adjustment and coordination develops.
∙ Adolescents are more independent than before and are also self conscious.

Biology 42 Class VIII

Secondary Sexual Characters
∙ Adolescence is a period of changes, where in boys, beard and moustaches grow, hair also grow
in pubic region and chest. In girls, growth of hair does not take place on chest or facial regions
or abdomen but growth of mammary gland and pelvis takes place. As these features help to
distinguish the male from the female, they are called secondary sexual characters.
Female Secondary Sexual Characteristics
Secondary Sexual Characteristic Usual Age Range
The breasts begin to develop 7 to 13
Pubic hair begins to grow 8 to 14
The vagina grows longer, and its outer lips (labia) become more
8 to 15
pronounced
The body grows taller and heavier 9 to 14
Menstruation begins 9 to 16
Hair begins to grow under the arms 11 to 16
Glands in the skin and scalp begin to produce more oil, which
11 to 16
can cause skin blemishes
Male Secondary Sexual Characteristics
Secondary Sexual Characteristic Usual Age Range
The testicles begin to enlarge, and the scrotum turns darker and coarser 10 to 13
Pubic hair begins to grow 10 to 15
The body grows taller and heavier 10 to 16
The penis begins to grow longer 11 to 15
The voice begins to deepen 11 to 15
Boys become fertile, meaning they are capable of ejaculating semen 11 to 17
Hair begins to grow under the arms and on the face 12 to 17
Glands in the skin and scalp begin to produce more oil, which can cause 12 to 17
skin blemishes

Role of Hormones in Initiating Reproductive functions

∙ The changes which occur at adolescence are controlled by hormones. Hormones are chemical
substances which are secreted by endocrine glands.
43 Reaching the Age of Adolescence
∙ At the onset of puberty, the male hormone testosterone begins to be released by the testes.
This cause changes in boys such as growth of facial hair.
∙ In girls, ovaries begin to produce the female hormone estrogen, which makes the breast
develop and the development of milk secreting gland [mammary gland] inside the breast.
∙ The production of these hormones is regulated by hormones secreted from pituitary glands.
∙ While circulating in blood stream, the hormones reach a particular body part, called target site
which respond to the hormone.
∙ At the target site, hormones stimulate changes in the body at onset of puberty.
∙ The pituitary secretes many hormones, including sex hormones, which make the ova to mature
in the ovaries and production of sperms in the testes.

The Onset of Puberty Controlled by hormones

Reproductive Phase of life in Humans
∙ Adolescents become capable of reproduction when their testes or ovaries begin to produce
gametes.
∙ In female, the reproductive phase of life begins at puberty [10 to 12 years of age] and generally
lasts till the age of approximately 45 to 50 years.
∙ When a girl is born, the ovaries already contain thousands of immature eggs. On reaching
puberty, some of these start maturing. One egg is produced every month by one of the ovaries.
The egg is carried from the ovary to oviduct.
∙ One ovum matures and is released in about 28 to 30 days. During this period, the wall of the
uterus becomes thick so as to receive the egg, in case it is fertilized and begins to develop. This
results in pregnancy.

∙ If fertilization does not occur, the released egg degenerates and the thickened lining of the
uterus along with its blood vessels are shed off. This causes bleeding in women which is called
menstruation.

Biology 44 Class VIII

∙ Menstruation occurs once in about 28 to 30 days. The first menstrual flow begins at puberty
and is termed menarche.
∙ At 45 to 50 years of age, the menstrual cycle stops. Stoppage of menstruation is termed
menopause. Menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. The cycle includes the maturation of
the egg, its release, thickening of uterine walls and its breakdown if pregnancy does not occur.
The Sex Determination in Humans:
∙ The fertilized egg, the zygote, start dividing and is called growing embryo. It gets implanted in
wall of uterus nearly 7 – 10 days after fertilization.
∙ The chromosomes are present inside the nucleus of every cell. In the sexual reproduction,
zygote cell receive half number of chromosomes from male parent and rest half from female
parent.
∙ In human beings, out of 23 pairs of chromosomes one pair is of sex chromosomes, named X
and Y. A female has two X chromosomes, while a male has one X and one Y chromosome.
∙ In sexual reproduction, fusion of male and female gamete occurs. A female gamete [egg] carry
a single X chromosome and male gamete [sperm] carry either X or a Y chromosome.
∙ Sex determination is based, on this conception: a Y-chromosome bearing sperm fertilizing an
egg conceives a male, and an X-chromosome bearing sperm conceives a female child.

Sex

determination in humans Position of endocrine glands

in human body

Hormones other than Sex Hormones

45 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

∙ Pituitary gland was earlier called as Master Endocrine Gland and is attached to the brain. The
hormones secreted by the pituitary stimulate testes and ovaries to produce their hormones.
Apart from pituitary, there are other endocrine glands in the body such as thyroid, pancreas and
adrenal.

Role of Hormones secreted by pituitary:

● TSH stimulates the growth and functions of thyroid gland.
● Growth hormones (GH) stimulate the growth and development of the body.
● Growth hormone is one of the hormones secreted by the pituitary. As its name indicates,
growth hormone regulates growth and development of the body. If there is a deficiency of this
hormone in childhood, it leads to dwarfism.

Thyroid gland secretes thyroxine. Iodine is necessary for thethyroid gland to make thyroxine
hormone.

Role of thyroxine
● Thyroxin regulates carbohydrate, protein and fat
metabolism in the body so as to provide the best balance
for growth.
● Thyroxine regulates the body temperature. It also
plays a major role in growth and development of body.

Deficiency disorders of Thyroid Gland

● The enlargement of thyroid gland due to deficiency of
iodine in blood is termed as ‘goitre’. This condition can
be prevented by eating vegetables and fishes as they
contain iodine in it. The abnormal secretion of thyroxine affects the body.
● Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by under production of thyroxine. It is
characterized by low energy production. Slowing down of heartbeat, loss of appetite and
lethargy.
● Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by over production of thyroxine. It is
characterized by increased energy production, increased heartbeat, increased appetite,
frequent sweating and shivering of hands.
● Apart from all these, it also causes a condition characterized by the retardation of mental
and physical development. This condition is known as Cretinism.
● In adult, the deficiency of thyroxine leads to a disease called Myxoedema while the over
secretion of thyroxine leads to Exophthalmic goitre.
● The thyroid gland produces another hormone called calcitonin. Calcitonin along with
parathormone, produced by parathyroid gland regulates the level of calcium ions in blood.

Adrenal gland is located at the top of each kidney. The hormone

secreted by adrenal gland is adrenaline. The target organs of adrenaline

Biology 46 Class VIII

include, muscles, heart. Adrenal gland is structurally and functionally divided into adrenal cortex
and adrenal medulla.

Role of adrenaline
● Heart beats faster, resulting in supply of more oxygen to our muscles. It helps the
body to adjust to stress when one is very angry, embarrassed or worried.
● It helps in defense of the body in emergency situations.
● It maintains the correct salt balance in the blood.

Pancreas is located near the liver i.e. below the stomach. The
hormones secreted by pancreas are insulin and glucagon. They
are secreted by the cluster of cells called ‘Islets of Langerhans’.

Role of pancreatic hormones:

● It maintains blood-sugar level of body.
● Insulin – Lowers / maintains the blood sugar level.
● Glucagon – Raises the blood sugar level.

47 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

Role of Hormones in Completing the Life History of Insects and Frogs
∙ In the life history of the silkworm, moth and frog, the caterpillar and tadpole passes through
certain developmental stages. In insects it is regulated by insect hormones like ecdysone
juvenile hormone.
∙ The change from larva to adult is called
metamorphosis, which is controlled by
hormones.
∙ In the frog, it is controlled by thyroxine,
produced by thyroid gland.
∙ Thyroxine production requires the
presence of iodine in water. If the water in
which the tadpoles are growing does not contain sufficient iodine, the tadpole cannot become
an adult.
Reproductive Heath
∙ The physical and mental well being of an individual is regarded as an individual’s health. It is
important to eat balanced diet and maintain personal hygiene during adolescence.

Nutritional Need of the Adolescents

Biology 48 Class VIII
∙ At adolescent stage, one feels hungry at rapid intervals. Therefore, parents should see to it that
the boys and girls are given balanced food so that their physical development is not hampered.
A balanced diet means that the meals include proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins in
requisite proportions.
∙ Indian meal which includes roti, dal(pulses), rice, vegetable is a balanced meal. Milk is a
balanced food in itself. Fruits fulfill the need of vitamins of our body. Iron builds blood and
iron-rich food such as leafy vegetables, jaggery, meat, citrus fruits, Indian gooseberry (amla)
are good for adolescents. Chips and packed or tinned snacks do not have adequate nutritional
value and adolescents should avoid them taking regularly.

Nutritional Food for Adolescents

Personal Hygiene
∙ A boy or girl passing through adolescence should take care of their personal hygiene. Everyone
should take bath and clean all parts of the body everyday. It is important because during
puberty, sweat glands become more active and sometimes it makes the body smelly.
∙ If cleanliness is not maintained, adolescents may catch bacterial infections.

Physical Exercise
∙ At this stage, children gain height. Their long bones, i.e.,bones of arm and leg elongates. All
young boys and girls should take walks, exercise and play outdoor games. It will help them in
muscular development.

49 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

Say ‘No’ to drugs
∙ Adolescents face various kinds of problems due to their changed needs. Sometimes, an
adolescent may feel insecure while trying to adjust to the changes in the body and mind. But
one should know that there is no reason to feel insecure. These changes are a natural part of
growing up.
∙ They should know that the drugs are addictive. If somebody misguides them to take any kind
of drug to get relief from changes, they should deny it strictly. Drugs harm the body in the long
run. It ruins health, self-confidence and happiness.
∙ It is also important that adolescents must be aware of dangerous diseases which are spreading
in the society, viz; AIDS.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

AIDS is a fatal disease caused by a dangerous virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
It destroys the body’s ability to fight against illness and infections. AIDS stands for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV kills or damages cells of the body’s immune system which
slowly destroys the body’s ability to fight infection and diseases. AIDS is the final stage of
HIV infection.
Methods of transmission of virus are –
(i) By sharing the syringes used for injecting drug between normal and infected person.
(ii) From infected mother to an infant through milk.
(iii) Through sexual contact with a person infected with HIV.
Preventing measures that can to be taken to prevent spread of AIDS are –
(i) Do not shares syringes or needles.
(ii) Avoid receiving infected blood during transfusion
(iii) Use sterilized surgical instruments.

Adolescent Pregnancy
∙ Early marriage and motherhood cause health problems in mother and child. Teenage mother is
not prepared mentally or physically for motherhood.
∙ In our country the legal age for marriage is 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys.
Biology 50 Class VIII
 SUBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
1. What is adolescence?
2. What is puberty?
3. What are the physical changes noticed in a boy when he is 15 years of age?
4. Why is the pelvis of a female wider than that of a male?
5. What are the developmental changes in females at the age of 13?
6. What are the biological needs of an adolescent?
7. Name the both male and female hormones.
8. What are secondary sexual characters?
9. What is adam’s apple?
10. How is the sex of the baby determined?
11. How does endocrine glands function?
12. Explain ‘Goitre’.
13. What is metamorphosis?
14. Write a short note on balanced diet.
15. Write a brief note on changes at puberty.
16. Explain the terms adolescence and puberty.
17. Write the function of adrenaline hormone.
18. What do you know about AIDS?
19. State the role of hormones in initiating reproductive function.
20. What are the effects of increased activity of sweat and sebaceous glands?

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Adolescence age for girls is

(a) 18 years (b) 21 years (c) 13 years (d) 15 years

51 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

2. Which of the following is not the real problem of adolescence?
(a) need for acceptance (b) need for food
(c) need for sex (d) need to earn

3. Puberty is the period of sexual maturity. In males it can be characterized by

(a) appearance of beard (b) change of voice
(c) change in height (d) all the above

4. Which gland becomes very active during adolescence?

(a) Digestive gland (b) Sweat gland (c) Adrenal gland (d) Pancreas

5. Testosterone in boys is produced due to secretions of

(a) adrenal gland (b) pituitary gland
(c) thyroid gland (d) parathyroid gland

6. In amphibians, metamorphosis is controlled by

(a) thyroid gland (b) adrenal gland (c) pituitary gland (d) pineal gland

7. Once a girl starts menstruating, her body needs more

(a) iron (b) calcium (c) vitamin C (d) vitamin A

8. One ovum is released in females once in every

(a) 28 days (b) 38 days (c) 18 days (d) 8 days

9. Ovaries secrete which hormones

(a) testosterone (b) estrogen (c) insulin (d) thyroxine

10. When we are under stress or angry, the hormone which helps us to adjust, is
(a) insulin (b) adrenaline (c) thyroxine (d) none of these

11. The spurt in physical growth is evident in girls between

(a) 11-13 years (b) 13-15 years (c) 15-17 years (d) 17-19 years

12. An adolescent covers individuals from

(a) 5-10 years (b) 12-18 years (c) 10-15 years (d) 10-20 years

13. Adam's apple is observed in

(a) boys during puberty (b) girls before puberty
(c) both boys and girls during puberty (d) none of these

Biology 52 Class VIII

14. Hormones affect the body in many different ways. Which of the following statements
captures the manner in which hormones serve an organizational role in the body?
(a) Prenatal hormones cause the brain to grow in certain ways.
(b) Prenatal hormones cause genes to influence organ development.
(c) Hormonal changes during puberty affect the functioning of the gonads.
(d) Hormonal changes during puberty do not affect the functioning of the pituitary gland.

15. When an adolescent's facial hair starts growing, or acne develops, or breasts start to grow, or
the genitals start to change, which organ is directly responsible for these changes?
(a) the thyroid gland (b) the adrenal glands
(c) the pituitary gland (d) the pancreas
16. The main reason teens look so awkward and "gangly" during puberty is
(a) synchronicity in growth causes different body parts to grow at the same time
(b) asynchronicity in growth causes different body parts to grow at different times
(c) dietary problems cause their feet and hands to outgrow their torso
(d) the torso tends to grow earlier and faster than the extremities

17. Muscle growth during puberty occurs

(a) only in males. (b) only in females
(c) in both genders (d) very slowly in females and fast in males
18. Which are, in general, the earliest changes that occur during pubertal growth?
(a) breast buds in females, size of penis in males
(b) underarm hair in females; size of penis in males
(c) breast buds in females; growth of testes in males
(d) menarche in females; growth of testes in males

19. A typical reason for the teens for weight gain during adolescence, which is relatively
unknown to the teen, is
(a) the typical decrease in metabolic rate
(b) the typical increase in metabolic rate
(c) the typical increase in sedentary activities such as TV viewing
(d) a genetic tendency to gain weight regardless of nutrition

20. Thyroxine production requires

(a) Calcium (b) Iodine (c) Iron (d) Magnesium

ANSWER KEY

53 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

 Reaching the Age of Adolescence
1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (b)
6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (b) 10. (b)
11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (a) 14. (c) 15. (c)
16. (a) 17. (c) 18. (c) 19. (b) 20. (b)

Biology 54 Class VIII

 55 Reaching the Age of
Adolescence