Adolescence is a stage marked by numerous physical, biological and psychological changes, which will greatly influence the adolescent’s way of thinking, growing and relating.
In this article we will focus on biological changes in adolescence, which have an enormous weight in sexual maturity, mainly through the formation of secondary sexual characteristics. Let’s see what happens in the body (and also in the mind) of boys and girls who enter and go through this complex and fascinating stage.
Adolescence is a stage of life that goes from the onset of puberty (the end of childhood) to the beginning of adulthood. At the end of adolescence, and well into adulthood, on a biological level the development of the organism has already been completed.
The biological changes in adolescence are multiple, as well as psychological and, in many cases, social changes. This stage, also called, in colloquial language, “turkey age”, It is characterized by a great hormonal movement, among other processes and by the well-known “growth spurt” that occurs in the adolescent’s body.
Furthermore, on a psychological level, the adolescent is in full personality configuration process which is being defined.
Importance of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis
To understand the biological changes in adolescence, we must know the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. This is located in the central nervous system, and is responsible for secreting different types of hormones: gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and sex hormones
The sex hormones are mainly estradiol, in the case of girls, and testosterone, in the case of boys. Thus, the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis will mark the biological changes in adolescence.
At this stage, an important secretion of sex hormones occurs. These hormones promote adolescent growth and development by influencing the secretion of growth hormone. Specifically, what occurs is the well-known “growth spurt.” More or less, The “growth spurt” ends at age 16 in girls and at age 18 in boys Once this process has been completed, generally the size that remains is the one that will last almost a lifetime.
But what, exactly, are the biological changes in adolescence that explain the growth spurt, as well as other processes? Let’s see them in detail.
Puberty
Puberty is the first stage of adolescence (early or initial adolescence) This is characterized by the appearance of noticeable changes in the boy or girl’s body.
Regarding physical development, the breast bud appears in girls, and in boys, the volume of the testicles increases. In boys, there is also a thinning of the scrotum, giving it a thinner appearance.
1. Secondary sexual characters
Regarding the development of secondary sexual characteristics, we can differentiate, in boys and girls, the following biological changes in adolescence.
1.1. Guys
Between 9 and 10 years of age there is an increase in the testicles, as we have seen, as well as a decrease in the scrotum. In addition, it acquires a dark color. On the other hand, the penis grows in size.
1. 2. Girls
In girls, between 8 and 10 years of age, the areola of the breast bud becomes prominent. Later, 6 months or 1 year after the start of this process, the first period or menstruation appears (also called menarche).
sexual maturity
The biological changes in adolescence, as we see, focus on the sexual area l (which, in turn, have an impact on many others). In this way, the adolescent’s sexual maturity is also consolidated and established. What changes, specifically, occur in this sense?
We can differentiate up to five stages in the sexual maturity of boys, during their adolescence.
In stage I, called prepubertal, boys do not yet have secondary sexual characteristics In stage II, public hair appears, which is long and fine. The texture of the scrotum begins to change, and the size of the penis and testicles increases.
In stage III, the pubic hair begins to curl. The testicles and scrotum continue to enlarge. In stage IV, the hair becomes increasingly curlier and thicker (although it does not look like adult hair). The penis and testicles are still increasing. The glans also enlarges, and the scrotum takes on a more pigmented appearance. Finally, in stage V, the hair is adult-like, extending to the inner thighs. The penis and testicles also have the appearance of the adult.
2. Girls
In the case of girls, up to five stages can also be differentiated in relation to their sexual maturation.
In stage I (prepubertal), secondary sexual characteristics have not yet been formed. In stage II, fine, hypopigmented pubic hair appears. The breast button appears, with an increase in the areola (which protrudes). In stage III, pubic hair curls and increases in quantity; It also increases its pigmentation. The breasts also increase in size, that is, they begin to grow.
In stage IV, the hair becomes increasingly curlier and thicker. The areola forms a small elevation above the breast. The breasts continue to increase in size.
Finally, the biological changes in adolescence, on a sexual level in girls, in stage V, are: curly and abundant hair; On the mount of Venus, the hair forms a triangle; The lips also increase, the breasts mature and the areola is part of their contour, and the nipple protrudes.
The biological changes in adolescence are very important, because They influence the adolescent’s personality, as well as their way of thinking, growing, relating, and seeing themselves …
That is why we cannot remain only with biological changes, since, on a psychological level, many changes also occur that should be known, and that are strongly interrelated with the first ones. Let’s get to know some of the most important ones:
1. Interest in sexuality
It is a known fact; In adolescence, interest in sex and sexuality is born and grows The first sexual contacts begin, touching, ejaculations… All of this, logically, is influenced by the biological changes in adolescence, which make sexual maturity possible.
2. Thought and social relationships
Abstract thinking is being consolidated little by little. On the other hand, at the social level, there is an increasing separation from the family, and social relationships increase (or at least, the interest in them).
At this stage, social groups become very important for the configuration of each person’s personality, which is in full process. The adolescent is in search of himself, what he is, what he likes, how he feels… At the same time, it can be a very complicated stage in this sense.
3. Other biological changes
Changes also occur in the voice, which becomes deeper (especially in boys), the size of the respiratory organs (lung and larynx) increases, there is excess activity of the sebaceous glands… The latter is what that causes acne, for example.
