GRADE-VIII BIOLOGY

CHAPTER -10
REACHING THE AGE OF ADOLESCENCE

Book Inner questions:

I. Fill in the blanks.
1. Adolescence period starts at the age of 11 to 13.
2. The name of the voice box is called larynx.
3. Endocrine glands release the hormones directly to bloodstream, because they are
ductless glands.
4. Estrogen is secreted by ovary.
5. The most conspicuous change during puberty is increase in height.
6. The unfertilized egg having only one X chromosome.
7. The zygote having two X chromosomes and it will developed in to female.
8. Hormone secretion of all the glands are controlled by pituitary gland.
9. Pancreas produces the insulin that control sugar level in blood.
10. Adrenalin hormone helps the body to adjust to stress.
11. Thyroxin hormone controls metamorphosis in frog.
12. Pituitary gland is otherwise called master gland.
13. Iodine is an important mineral for functioning of thyroid gland.
14. 11 to 19 age is the age of adolescence.
II. Answer the following.
1. Define adolescence.
The period of life, when the body undergoes changes leading to reproductive maturity
is called adolescence. It is the age between 11 to19, and this stage is called teenage.
2. What is meant by puberty?
The puberty is the time in life, when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature. During
this period ,human body undergoes several changes .
3. Write short notes on:
a. Menarche: The first menstrual flow begins at puberty and it is said to be
menarche.
b. Menopause: The menstrual cycle stops at the age of 45 to 50. Stoppage of
menstruation is said to be menarche.
4. Write any two ductless glands.
˃ Pituitary gland
˃ Thyroid gland
5. What is meant by balanced diet?
Balanced diet is a diet ,that contains all the nutrients in requisite propositions.
6. Write the full form of HIV and AIDS.
HIV- Human Immuno deficiency Virus
AIDS- Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
7. Write the secondary sexual characters in male and female.
Male:
^ Increases in height
^ Testes produces the sperms
^ Voice becomes hoarse
^ Facial hair growth (moustaches and and beard)
^ Shoulder becomes broaden
^ Hair growth in chest, under arms and pubic area
^ More sweat secretion and oil secretion
Girls:
^ Increases in height
^ Ovary produces the ova
^ Voice becomes shrill
^ The regions below the waist become wider
^ Hair growth under arms and in pubic area
^ Breast development
^ Pimple and acne on the face due to secretion sebaceous glands
Book back questions.
1. What is the term used for secretions of endocrine glands responsible for changes taking
place in the body? Hormones
2. What is menstruation? Explain.
In females, the ova or eggs begin to mature with the onset of puberty (10 to 12 years of
 age) one egg get matured and is released by one of the ovaries once in about 28 to 30
days. During this period, the wall of the uterus becomes thick so as to receive the
fertilized egg. In case it is fertilized, it begins to develop. This results in pregnancy. If the
fertilization fails to take place, the ovum or the released egg and the thickened lining of
the uterus along with its blood vessels are shed off. This causes bleeding in women. This
is called menstruation. It occurs once in 28 to 30 days.
3. List out the changes in the body that take place at puberty.
˃Increase in the height of both boys and girls
˃ Changes in body shape
˃ Voice change
˃ Increased activity of sweat and sebaceous glands
˃ Development of sex organs
˃ Reaching mental, intellectual and emotional maturity.
4. What are sex hormones? Why are they named so? State their function.
The hormones which help and control the formation of secondary sexual characters are
called sex hormones.
They are named so because they control the sexual activities and are secreted by males
and females separately.
Male sex hormone: It is also called testosterone. It is secreted by testes and causes
changes in secondary sexual character of boys like growth of facial hair like moustache,
beard, etc. It also stimulates spermatogenesis.
Female sex hormone: It is also called estrogen. It is secreted by ovaries and controls the
secondary sexual characters in females, appearance of mammary glands, etc. It also
maintains pregnancy.
5. Prepare a table having two columns depicting names of endocrine glands and
hormones secreted by them.
Endocrine glands - Hormones - Role
1. Pituitary gland - growth hormones - regulates growth and
maturation of ova and sperm.
2. Ovaries - Estrogen - Breast development and
Reproduction.
3. Testes - Testosterone - Supporting for facial hair
growth, sperm formation.
4. Thyroid - Thyroxine - Induce the growth.
5. Pancreas - Insulin - controls the sugar level in
Blood.
6. Adrenal glands - Adrenaline - helps the body to adjust to
Stress, maintain correct salt
Balance in blood.
6. Write notes on :
a) Adam’s apple: At puberty, boys develop larger voice boxes. The growing voice box
in boys can be seen as a protruding part of the throat called Adam’s apple.
b) Secondary sexual characters: The characters developed during adult period helps
to distinguish the male from the female .They are called secondary sexual
characters.
c) Sex determination in unborn baby: The two sex chromosomes called XX in
female and XY in male determine the sex of the young one. The zygote contains
total set of chromosomes. If it is XX then, it is a female ;if it is XY then it is a male.