Adolescent Development Exam 1

Define Adolescence

The stage of development that begins with puberty and ends when individuals make the transition into adult roles, roughly speaking, from about age 10 until the early 20s.

Endocrine System

A complex system of glands that produces, circulates, and releases hormones, regulating growth, metabolism, and sexual development. It plays a crucial role in the physical and emotional changes that occur during adolescence.

Set Point

A physiological level or setting (e.g., of a specific hormone) that the body attempts to

maintain through a self-regulating system.

Feedback Loop

A cycle through which two or more bodily functions respond to and regulate each other, such as that formed by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the gonads.

Pituitary Gland

One of the chief glands responsible for regulating levels of hormones in the body.

Hypothalamus

A part of the brain that controls the functioning of the pituitary gland. Helps manage: body temp, blood pressure, hunger and thirst, sense of fullness when eating, mood, sex drive, sleep

Gonads

The glands that secrete sex hormones: in males, the testes; in females, the ovaries.

Testes

The male gonads

Ovaries

The female gonads

Androgens

A class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, found in both sexes but in higher levels among males than females following puberty.

Estrogens

A class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, found in both sexes but in higher

levels among females than males following puberty.

HPG (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal) axis

before birth=3 structures: pituitary gland, hypothalamus, gonads

Adrenarche

The maturation of the adrenal glands that takes place during adolescence.

Cortisol

A hormone produced when a person is exposed to stress.