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5 - Physical and cognitive changes associated with puberty

from Part II - Scientific underpinnings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2009

Brett McDermott
By
Victor M. Fornari  and
Ida F. Dancyger
Edited by
Tony Jaffa
Brett McDermott
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Victor M. Fornari
Affiliation:
North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, USA
Ida F. Dancyger
Affiliation:
North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, USA
Tony Jaffa
Affiliation:
Phoenix Centre, Cambridge
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Summary

Puberty is perhaps the most important of life transitions. The changes that occur as a result of puberty are both dramatic and universal. It is a process of rapid and simultaneous transformation in biological, social and psychological dimensions of development. Although it may appear that puberty is a discreet event that punctuates the shift from childhood to adulthood, in reality it is a part in a series of events that begins at the time of conception. Our goal in this chapter is to discuss the physical and cognitive changes characteristic of pubertal maturation. New evidence suggests that there are sex differences regarding the biology of puberty that were not previously understood, and this too will be reviewed (Fechner, 2003).

Fetal life

Physical maturation and reproductive functioning are controlled by the endocrine system that operates first through the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA system) and then through the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis (Grumbach & Styne, 1998). During the prenatal period, it is the exposure to androgens that organizes the reproductive system (Reiter & Grumbach, 1982). The hypothalamic–gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator is initially active during fetal life and early infancy, but is then suppressed during childhood (see Fig. 5.1).

Differences in male and female patterns of gonadotropin secretion have been described during fetal life (Beck-Peccoz et al., 1991). Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are produced by the gonadotropic cells of the pituitary gland and stimulate the ovaries and testes to secrete oestrogen and testosterone, respectively.

Keywords

adolescencecognitive changematurationphysical changepuberty
Type
Chapter
Information
Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents , pp. 57 - 69
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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