Gourt > Kids and Teens > Health > Puberty
Puberty refers to the process of physical changes by which a child's body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction. Growth accelerates in the first half of puberty and reaches completion by the end. Body differences between boys and girls before puberty are almost entirely restricted to the genitalia. During puberty major differences of size, shape, composition, and function develop in many body structures and systems. The most obvious of these are referred to as secondary sex characteristics. In a strict sense, the term puberty (and this article) refers to the bodily changes of sexual maturation rather than the psychosocial and cultural aspects of adolescent development.
Adolescence is the period of psychological and social transition between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence largely overlaps the period of puberty but its boundaries are less precisely defined and it refers as much to the psychosocial and cultural characteristics of development during the teen years as to the physical changes of puberty.
The physical changes of puberty in girls
Breast development
The first physical sign of puberty in girls is usually a firm, tender lump under the center of the areola(e) of one or both breasts, occurring on average at about 10.5 years. This is referred to as thelarche. By the widely used Tanner staging of puberty, this is stage 2 of breast development (stage 1 is a flat, prepubertal breast). Within 6-12 months, the swelling has clearly begun in both sides, softened, and can be felt and seen extending beyond the edges of the areolae. This is stage 3 of breast development. By another 12 months (stage 4), the breasts are approaching mature size and shape, with areolae and papillae forming a secondary mound. In most young women, this mound disappears into the contour of the mature breast (stage 5), although there is so much variation in sizes and shapes of adult breasts that distinguishing advanced stages is of little clinical value. More on [ Puberty ]
Also, I can't wait for the day Timmy Turner turns 11. Or hits puberty. Whichever comes first.
taylorraines (taylorraines) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:40:09 -0000
Also, I can't wait for the day Timmy Turner turns 11. Or hits puberty. Whichever comes first.
RT: @danaaaaax: "he doesnt want to talk to you because his voice is all messed up from puberty" LMFAO.
Laurennxo29 (Lauren Fey) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:38:33 -0000
RT: @danaaaaax: "he doesnt want to talk to you because his voice is all messed up from puberty" LMFAO.
@ShanChammas,..Ur soo proud ur going through puberty...
SammySalah (Sammy Salah) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:35:19 -0000
@ShanChammas,..Ur soo proud ur going through puberty...
Dumb call to run a bootleg when ur standing in your own enzone. Vandenberg needs to hit puberty before he can help the cause
TruePlayaJuice (Justin Holstein) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:25:53 -0000
Dumb call to run a bootleg when ur standing in your own enzone. Vandenberg needs to hit puberty before he can help the cause
@melody_mydear maybe if he goes through puberty first then he might sound like a man haha
BLaM19 (Bryan Lam) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:21:05 -0000
@melody_mydear maybe if he goes through puberty first then he might sound like a man haha
@ladylux79 drink more water...hydrating will help. that's why i have no from prego. but i got some when i hit puberty
smurfette_ftc (Tami ) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:17:20 -0000
@ladylux79 drink more water...hydrating will help. that's why i have no from prego. but i got some when i hit puberty
All About Puberty - Voice cracking? Clothes don't fit? Puberty can be a confusing time, but learning about it doesn't have to be. Read all about it in this article for kids.
Meta Description: [ Voice cracking? Clothes don't fit? Puberty can be a confusing time, but learning about it doesn't have to be. Read all about it in this article for kids. ]
BBC: Puberty - Interactive images display male and female bodies as they change during puberty.
It's a Girl Thing - About the physical and emotional changes that take place at puberty. Talks about menstruation. Includes a message board.
Meta Description: [ Girls growing up, exercise and nutrition for teens, menstrual period and your body - Girlspace® for teenage girls who strive to find the balance between mind, body and spirit. ]
KidsHealth: Growing Up - Information about changing bodies and minds and the kinds of issues that older kids face.
Meta Description: [ For info about your changing body and mind and the kinds of issues that older kids face, this is the place. ]
Preteen Health Talk - Site by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation dealing with topics of interest written by and for other teens and tweens. Also includes movie and book reviews.
Meta Description: [ Preteen Health Site for children 9 to 12 from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation dealing with topics of interest written by and for other teens and tweens in the Bay Area ]
Puberty - What it is, when it happens, and common concerns.
Spiderbytes: Puberty - Information about puberty in point form and some quizzes.
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