INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL DAMMAM

MIDDLE SECTION
NOTES 2022- 23
CLASS: VIII SUBJECT: GENERAL SCIENCE
LESSON- 10 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

I. DEFINE THE FOLLOWING

1) Adolescence-The period of life between 11 to 18-19 years when the body undergoes physical and
mental development towards adulthood. The children in this age group are called ‘adolescents’ or
‘teenagers.

2) Puberty - The period when adolescents reach reproductive maturity and become capable of
reproduction.

3) Hormones- Chemical substances secreted by the endocrine glands that control and coordinate
growth and life activities of living organisms.

4) Secondary Sexual Characters- The features which enable us to distinguish the male from the
female are called secondary sexual characters. Eg. growth of facial hair in boys and development of
breasts in girls
5) Endocrine gland- Glands which release their secretions directly into the blood stream are known as
Endocrine glands, as they do not have ducts they are also known as ductless glands.

6) Target site- Endocrine glands release hormones into the blood stream to reach a particular body
part called Target site. The target site responds to the hormone.

7) Sex Hormones- The hormones involved in the development of secondary sexual characters and
changes leading to reproductive maturity are called sex hormones.

8) Sex Chromosomes- In humans there are 46 (23 pairs) chromosomes. Out of these, two
chromosomes (1 pair) namely X and Y determines the sex of an individual, they are called the sex
chromosomes. Two X chromosomes are present in female, while a male has one X chromosome
and one Y chromosome.
II. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. What are the changes that occur at puberty?

i. Increase in height
ii. Change in body shape
iii. Voice change
iv. Increased activity of sweat and sebaceous glands
v. Development of sex organs
vi. Reaching Mental, Intellectual and Emotional Maturity

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 INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL DAMMAM
MIDDLE SECTION
NOTES 2022- 23
CLASS: VIII SUBJECT: GENERAL SCIENCE

2. Write a short note on Adam ’s apple.

Ans. At puberty the voice box or larynx begins to grow. Boys develop larger voice boxes. The
growing voice box in boys can be seen as protruding part of the throat called Adam’s apple.

3. Why do many young people get acne and pimples during Adolescence?

Ans- Many young people get acne and pimples on their face during adolescence due to the
increased activity of sweat and sebaceous glands (oil glands)

4. Name some glands that release their secretions through ducts.

Ans. Sweat glands, Oil Glands, Salivary glands.

5. What are hormones? How does a hormone work?

Ans. Hormones are the chemical substances secreted by the endocrine glands. Endocrine glands
are ductless glands so the hormones are directly poured into the blood stream and carried to all
parts of the body. The hormones perform their functions when they reach their particular site of
action also called the target site.

6. Why is the Pituitary gland also known as the master gland?

Ans. Pituitary gland is also known as the master gland because it secretes hormones that control
the functions of many other endocrine glands like thyroid, adrenals, testis and ovary.

7. How does Pituitary gland control the onset of Puberty?

Ans. At the Onset of Puberty hormones from the Pituitary gland stimulate the testes and ovaries
to release testosterone (in males) and Estrogen (in females) respectively. These hormones are
released into the blood stream to reach their target site and stimulate changes in the body related
to puberty.

8. In adolescent boys the voice becomes hoarse. Give reason.

Ans. In Adolescent boys sometimes the muscles of the growing voice box go out of control and the
voice becomes hoarse.

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 INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL DAMMAM
MIDDLE SECTION
NOTES 2022- 23
CLASS: VIII SUBJECT: GENERAL SCIENCE

9. What is the role of Hormones in Metamorphosis?

Ans. In insects metamorphosis is controlled by the insect hormones. In Frogs the hormone
Thyroxine produced by the thyroid gland is necessary for transformation of tadpole to frog. The
presence of iodine is necessary for the production of Thyroxine. Tadpoles cannot become adults if
the water in which tadpoles grow is deficient in Iodine.

10. List the various Endocrine glands in the Human Body along with their location, the hormone
secreted and functions

S.No Name of Location Hormone released Function

Endocrine gland
1 Pituitary Base of the brain i.Growth hormone • Controls normal growth
ii.Other Hormones and development of the
body
• Control the function of
other endocrine glands
2. Thyroid On either side of Thyroxine • Control metabolism.
windpipe normal growth and
development
• Deficiency of thyroxine
causes goitre. Iodine is
necessary to produce
thyroxine

3. Pancreas Below the stomach Insulin • Controls the level of

sugar in the blood. Lack
of insulin causes
Diabetes

4. Adrenals Above the kidneys Adrenalin • Maintains correct salt

balance in the body
• Controls the heartbeat
and breathing rate
• Helps the body to adjust
to stress when one is
angry, embarrassed or
worried
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 INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL DAMMAM
MIDDLE SECTION
NOTES 2022- 23
CLASS: VIII SUBJECT: GENERAL SCIENCE
5 Testis Male reproductive Testosterone • Development of
part secondary sexual
characters in males and
reproductive maturity

6 Ovary Female Estrogen • Development of

reproductive part secondary sexual
characters in females
and reproductive
maturity

11. Explain the determination of the sex of a baby in Humans using a Flowchart.

FLOW CHART – Sex determination of a baby

Parents Mother Father

Sex Chromosomes XX XY
Ova Sperm

Gametes X X X Y

Fertilization

Offspring XX XY

Girl Boy

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CLASS: VIII SUBJECT: GENERAL SCIENCE

12. Locate the position of the various endocrine glands in the Human body.

13. How is AIDS transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person?

AIDS (Acquired Immuno deficiency syndrome) is caused by a dangerous virus called HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus). It can be transmitted to a normal person by
1. Sharing Syringes used for injecting drugs
2. Transmitted to an infant from the infected mother through her milk.
3. Sexual contact with a person infected with HIV

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