ch. 1 vocab - psy 234

adolescent growth spurt

the dramatic increase in height and weight that occurs during puberty -average of 10 inches taller - nearly 1/3 of adult body weight

adrenarche

the maturation of the adrenal gland that takes place during adolescence

androgens

male sex hormones

cortisol

a hormone produced when a person is exposed to stress

cross-sectional study

a study that compares two or more groups of individuals at one point in time

delayed phase preference

a pattern of sleep characterized by later sleep and wake times, which usually emerges during puberty

endocrine system

produces, circulates, and regulates hormone levels in the body

epiphysis

the closing of the ends of the bones, which terminates growth after the adolescent growth spurt has been completed

estrogens

female sex hormones

feedback loop

cycle through which bodily functions regulate each other (ex: HPG axis)

glands

organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific ways

gonads

glands that secrete sex hormones

hormones

specialized substances secreted by endocrine glands

hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

kisspeptin

a brain chemical believed to trigger the onset of puberty

leptin

a brain chemical produced by the fat cells that may play a role in the onset of puberty through stimulating kisspeptin -more fat cells can lead to earlier puberty

longitudinal study

a study that follows the same group of individuals over time

melatonnin

a hormone secreted by the brain that contributes to sleepiness and that triggers the onset of puberty through its impact on kisspeptin -more light exposure during childhood can lead to earlier puberty

menarche

onset of menstruation

ovaries

female gonads

pituitary gland

the endocrine system's most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

primary sex characteristics

production of eggs/sperm and development of sex organs

secondary sex characteristics

the manifestations of sexual maturity at puberty, including the development of breasts, the growth of facial and body hair, and changes in the voice

secular trend

the tendency, over the past two centuries, for individuals to be larger in stature and to reach puberty earlier, primarily because of improvements in health and nutrition

set point

physiological level that the body attempts to maintain

tanner stages

a widely used system that describes the five stages of pubertal development

testes

male gonads

HPG axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad)

set to maintain certain levels of androgens/estrogens