REACHING THE AGE OF ADOLESCENCE

NOTEBOOK WORK
1 List the changes in the body which take place at puberty.
Increase in height, change in body shape, voice change, increased activity of sweat
and sebaceous gland and development of sex organs.

2 How do hormones control puberty?

Hormones from pituitary gland stimulate testes and ovaries to release testosterone
(in males) and estrogen (in females). The hormones released in blood stream and
reach to different parts of the body (target site) and stimulate changes in the body at
onset of puberty.

3 Why a tadpole living in a pond does not grow into an adult frog?
Because of insufficient iodine it the pond.

4. Write short note on

(a) Adam s apple
In human males, the larynx grows larger during puberty and can be seen as a
protruding part of the throat. This protrusion is known as the Adam's apple. In
boys, under the influence of sex hormones, the larynx becomes prominent, As a
result, the vocal cords become longer and thicker, causing the voice to become
hoarse.
(b) Secondary sexual characters
The feature which help to distinguish the males from the females are known as
secondary sexual characters. Boys also develop hair on their chest. In both, boys and
girls, hair grows under the arms and in the region above the thighs or the pubic region.
 5

Age (in % of maximum

years) height

11 88

12 91
The given chart shows the average rate of 13 95
growth in the height of girls with age.
14 98
Rena is 12 years old and 130 cm tall.
15 99

16 99.5

17 100

18 100

What will be Rena’s estimated height at the end of the growth period?

(130/91)*100=142 cm
6.Draw a well labelled diagram showing endocrine glands in humans. Also write the
hormones secreted by them.
Fig. 10.5, Pg 119
S. No. Glands Hormones secreted
1 Pituitary gland Growth hormone
2 Thyroid gland Thyroxine
3 Adrenal gland Adrenalin
4 Pancreas Insulin
5 Ovary Estrogen
6 Testis Testosterone

7.Why are endocrine glands called ductless gland?

Endocrine glands are called ductless glands as they do not have ducts they release
hormones directly into the blood stream to reach the target.
8. Discuss sex determination in humans.
i) All human beings have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
ii) 2 chromosomes out of these are sex chromosome X and Y.
iii) A female has 2 X chromosomes while a male has 1X and 1 Y chromosome.
 iv) When a sperm containing X chromosome fertilizes a egg, the zygote would
have 2X chromosomes and would develop into a female child (XX).
v) If a sperm containing Y chromosome fertilizes the egg, the zygote would
develop into a male child (Y). Fig. 10.4, Pg. 119.
9. Give reasons for the following
a) Why does lack of iodine leads to goiter?
If there is a lack of iodine, thyroid gland would not produce thyroxine which will result
in goiter.
b) Why does a class VIII boy’s voice become rough or hoarse? Give reasons.
As muscles of the growing voice box goes out of control.

10. In our country a women is often blamed for the sex of the baby. Do you think it is right.
Justify your answer.
Ans: No, it is not right as father is responsible for determination of sex of a baby.

11. What happens to the ovum when it is

a) fertilized – Zygote is formed and development of baby occurs.
b) not fertilized in the fallopian tube – menstruation occurs.