PSY 3105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Pubic Hair, Delayed Puberty, Thelarche
28 Sep 2016
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L e c t u r e 2 : p u b e r t y & p h y s i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t. Derived from the latin word pubescere" which means to grow hairy . The body undergoes a biological revolution that dramatically changes the adolescent"s anatomy, physiology, and physical appearance. Gonads (sex glands) are ovaries (females) and testes (males: gonads produce sex hormones: estrogens, androgens. Hypothalamus monitors levels of sex hormones: when levels too low, hypothalamus signals pituitary. At puberty, set point for hormones rises (hypothalamus decides that we need more androgens and estrogens) Increased hormones initiate physical, sexual development (development of secondary sex characteristics) System first starts operating before birth: naturally, the default is a female. Puberty: pituitary gland starts to secrete another hormone . Acth which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce androgens.
