REACHING THE AGE OF ADOLESCENCE

The period during which the human body undergoes various changes leading to reproductive
maturity is called adolescence. In humans, it begins around the age of 11 and lasts till 18-19
years. So, this period is also called teenage. Adolescents are also called teenagers.
Puberty is the process of physical changes through which a child's body matures into an
adult body capable of sexual reproduction.
Changes at puberty
During puberty, our body undergoes many changes. Some of the changes that take place
during puberty are enlisted hereunder:
1) Increase in height: The maximum height of a boy or a girl can be calculated by using
formula:
Current height ∈cm
Maximum height = x 100
% growth at this age
The height of a person is controlled by genes and hormones.
2) Change in body shape
3) Voice change
4) Active sebaceous glands (oil glands) and sweat glands
5) Mental, intellectual and emotional maturity
6) Development of a sex organs
(Go through the book for the explanation of these changes)
Secondary sexual characters: Any of the physical characteristics that differentiate male and
female individuals, as distribution of hair or fat on the body, breast and muscle development,
deepening of the voice, etc., that are not directly related to reproduction and usually appear
at puberty are known as secondary sexual characters.
All these characteristics are controlled by chemical substances called hormones released by
different glands of our body.
Endocrine and exocrine glands
Exocrine glands are ducted glands. The secret juices like mucus, saliva, tear etc. Their
secretions are related life processes like respiration, digestion etc.
Endocrine are ductless glands. They secrete hormones. Their secretions are responsible for
control and coordination of growth.
Hormones are the chemical substance secreted by endocrine glands. They are chemical
messenger of the body because they carry chemicals to all parts of the body through blood
circulation to bring about the harmonious working of the body.
The functions of hormones are as follows:
They stimulate and control various physiological and metabolic activities of the body.
They regulate growth and reproduction.
Hormones are transported by blood to reach a particular body part called target site for their
proper functioning.
The various endocrine glands are:
1) Pituitary gland
2) Thyroid gland
3) Parathyroid gland
4) Thymus gland
5) Adrenal gland
6) Pancreas
7) Testis
8) Ovary
Location, functions and the secretions of different endocrine glands
S.No Name of Location Hormone Functions Remarks
. gland
1 Pituitary In the brain Growth and a) It controls the It is also
Stimulating growth of the body called
hormones b) It also stimulate master
the functioning of gland.
other glands.
2 Thyroid In the neck Thyroxine a) It controls the
gland region general metabolism
3 Parathyroid In the neck Parathormone a) It controls the
region on each calcium
side of the metabolism of the
body and helps in
thyroid gland
normal growth of
bones and tissues.
4 Thymus In the chest Thymosin or a) Production of a Gradually
lymphocyte type of white cell disappears
called T cells in teenage.
5 Adrenal On each kidney Adrenalin a) It helps the body to Also called
like a cap adjust to stresses emergency
such as anger, gland.
worry or
embarrassment.
b) It helps to
maintain the salt-
and-water balance
of the body
6 Pancreas Nearer to Insulin a) Controls the Also called
stomach amount of sugar in double
the blood gland
7 Testis In male Testosterone a) Controls the
reproductive part development of
nearer to penis secondary sexual
characters in male
b) Helps to produce
sperms
8 Ovary Two ovaries one Estrogen and a) Controls the
on each side of progesterone development of
uterus secondary sexual
characters in male
b) Helps in the
production of milk
by mammary
glands at the time
of puberty.
Role of hormones in completing the Life cycle of Frogs and insects:
In insects, metamorphosis is controlled by insect hormones. In case of frog, it is controlled by
a hormone called thyroxine. Presence of iodine in water is essential for the production of
thyroxine. If the water in which tadpoles are growing is lack of iodine, the tadpoles cannot
transform into adults.

Menstruation Cycle: The process of release of an egg or ovum by an ovary is called

ovulation. One ovum is released after every 28-30 days from one of the ovaries alternately.
During this period, the soft tissues becomes thick so as to receive the egg. If fertilization of
sperm and ovum does not occur, the soft tissues of the uterine wall break down as a result of
which bleeding starts. The unfertilized egg is discharged from the body along with the blood
flow. The bleeding lasts for 4 to 6 days. This is called menstruation or a period. Thus
menstruation can be defined as the monthly flow of blood, mucus and the unfertilized egg
from the uterus in human females.
The first menstrual flow begins at puberty and is termed as menarche. It continues till the
age of 45 to 50 years in female. This phase is termed as reproductive or active phase. After
that the menstrual flow stops. This is called menopause.

Sex determination of the baby

We know that cell contains a nucleus. The nucleus contains chromatin. At the time of cell
division, the chromatin thread gets disintegrated into smaller pieces. Each piece is called
chromosome. Each cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes. Out of these, one pair is called sex
chromosome. They are named as X and Y chromosome. In female, this pair of chromosome is
similar and named as XX chromosome. In males the pair is dissimilar and is named as XY
chromosome.
When a sperm containing X chromosome fuses with the ovum, the zygote contains XX
chromosome which results baby girl. If a sperm containing Y chromosome fuses with the
ovum, the zygote contains XY chromosome which results a baby boy.

Reproductive health:
A person is said to be healthy when he is she is physically and mentally fit. Adolescence is a
crucial phase of life. Reproductive health is the state of physically and mentally fit in all
matters relating to the reproductive system and to its function and processes. In this stage, a
balanced diet, lots of exercises and social interactions are needed.
Some of the tips for the reproductive health are as follows:
a) Nutritional needs of the adolescents.
b) Personal hygiene
c) Physical exercise
d) Drugs: An absolute No, No
(Go through the textbook for explanation)