May 09 2008

The Adolescent Years: Bodies in Motion

Published by dodo at 1:52 am under Adolescent, Boys, Child Care, Daddy, Family, Girls, Mommy, Parenting, Teenager

From a physical standpoint, the main event of adolescence is puberty, which serves as the physiological bridge between childhood and adulthood.

Puberty: The stage of maturation in which an individual becomes physiologically capable of sexual reproduction. (From the Latin puber: “adult.”)

Rapid growth and body changes during these years are to a large degree brought about by interactions between several hormones, biochemical compounds that are created in one part of the body and sent via the bloodstream to have a specific effect somewhere else. These chemical messages provoke an impressive number and variety of responses throughout the body. All of the hormones and the glands that secrete them are collectively known as the endocrine system. Not all hormones, however, are related to reproduction. Thyroid hormone, for example, plays an important role in the body’s metabolic rate. Insulin, secreted by the pancreas, escorts glucose (or blood sugar) into the cells that need and use this basic fuel. Growth hormone, as its name implies, is necessary for the attainment of normal adult height.

KidsSpeaking of growth hormone, a major growth spurt is one hallmark of adolescence, usually occurring between the ages of ten and fourteen in girls, and twelve and sixteen in boys. (Perhaps “spurt” isn’t the most accurate term for this event, which actually lasts between two and three years.) The rate of growth can vary, but it tends to be the fastest during spring and summer. Weight increases as well, and bones progress through their final stages of maturation. In addition, the percentage of body fat increases in girls and decreases in boys.

Pubertal development in boys

A number of marvelous changes take place as a boy’s body grows into that of a man’s. Male sexual development usually begins between the ages of ten and thirteen (the average age is eleven), and the process is usually completed in about three years, although it can range anywhere from two to five years. The timing and speed of bodily changes can vary greatly between boys of the same age, and the slow developer may need extra encouragement and continued reassurance that he will eventually reach the goal of manhood. (He can be gently reminded that he probably hasn’t seen any men walking around lately with high, squeaky voices.) A boy should be checked by his physician, however, if he begins to show pubertal changes before age nine or has none of these developments underway by age fourteen.

The first physical sign of puberty in boys is enlargement in the size of the testicles and thinning of the scrotum. Hair appears on the face, chest, under the arms, and in the genital area. The voice starts to deepen, although it may pass through an awkward phase of breaking, especially when he is excited or nervous.

The testicles begin manufacturing sperm, which are transported through a structure called the epididymis (one of which sits adjacent to each testicle) and then onward to the penis through a pair of flexible tubes called the vas deferens. The prostate begins to produce seminal fluid, which carries sperm out of the body during ejaculation. The newly functioning sexual equipment will at times unexpectedly carry out its functions during the middle of the night in what is called a nocturnal emission or “wet dream,” a normal event that an uninformed adolescent might find alarming. Along the same lines, boys may be concerned or embarrassed by unexpected erections, which can occur at very inopportune times (for example, just prior to giving a report in front of a class). Neither of these should be interpreted as a sign of impending moral failure. In fact, we hope you will have briefed your son about these normal events before puberty arrived.

If you are a single mother who feels uncomfortable discussing these matters with your son, consider seeking help from an adult male who not only shares your values but has enough rapport to talk with him about these topics.

Some boys develop a small, button-sized nodule of breast tissue directly under the nipple. This is a common response to changing hormones, although it may cause a minor panic when first discovered (”Is this a tumor?” “Am I going to develop breasts like a woman?”). This area may become a little tender but should return to normal within twelve to eighteen months. If you have any questions, or if breast tissue appears to be increasing in size (a phenomenon known as gynecomastia), have it checked by your son’s doctor.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
The Adolescent Years: Bodies in Motion

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