What are the biological changes in adolescence?

Let's look at the Biological changes that occur during adolescence and in what order they appear.

Adolescence is a stage marked by numerous physical, biological and psychological changes, which will greatly influence the way the adolescent thinks, grows and relates to others.

In this article we will focus on the biological changes in adolescence, which have an enormous influence on the way adolescents think, grow and relate to others.In this article we will focus on the biological changes in adolescence, which have an enormous influence on sexual maturity, mainly through the formation of secondary sexual characteristics. We will see what happens in the body (and also in the mind) of boys and boys who enter and pass through this stage as complex as fascinating.

Biological changes in adolescence: a summary

Adolescence is a stage of life from the onset of puberty (the end of childhood) to the beginning of adulthood. By the end of adolescence, and well into adulthood, the biological development of the organism is complete.

There are many biological changes in adolescence, as well as psychological and, in many cases, social changes. This stage, also called, in colloquial language, "the age of the turkey", is characterized by a great hormonal movement, is characterized by a great hormonal movement, among other processes, and by the well-known "growth spurt".and by the well-known "growth spurt" that occurs in the adolescent's body.

In addition, on a psychological level, the adolescent is in the midst of a process of personality process of shaping his or her personalitywhich is in the process of being defined.

Importance of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis

To understand the biological changes in adolescence, we must understand 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 responsible for secreting different types of hormones: gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and sex hormones..

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.

Hormones and "growth spurt

At this stage, there is a significant secretion of sex hormones. These hormones promote the growth and development of the adolescent, as they influence the secretion of growth hormone. Specifically, what occurs is the so-called "growth spurt". More or less, the "growth spurt" ends at 16 in girls and at 18 in boys.. Once this process has been completed, the size that remains is generally the size that will last most of one's life.

But what exactly are the biological changes in adolescence that explain the growth spurt and other processes? Let's look at them in detail.

Puberty

Puberty is the first stage of adolescence (early adolescence).. It is characterized by the appearance of noticeable changes in the boy's or girl's body.

In terms of physical development, in girls the mammary bud appears, and in boys, the volume of the testicles increases. In boys, in addition, there is a thinning of the scrotum, acquiring a thinner appearance.

1. Secondary sexual characteristics

With regard to the development of secondary sexual characteristics, we can distinguish the following biological changes in adolescence in boys and girls.

1.1. Boys

Between 9 and 10 years of age there is an increase of the testicles, as we have seen, as well as a decrease of the scrotum. In addition, the scrotum acquires a dark coloration. 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 mammary bud becomes prominent. Later, 6 months to 1 year after the beginning of this process, the first period or menstruation (also called menarche) appears.

Sexual maturity

Biological changes in adolescence, as we can see, are focused on the sexual area (which, in turn, have repercussions on the sexual development of the adolescent).(which, in turn, have repercussions in many other areas). In this way, the sexual maturity of the adolescent also consolidates and settles. What changes, specifically, occur in this regard?

1. Boys

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 increase. In stage IV, the hair becomes increasingly curly and thicker (although it does not reach the appearance of adult hair). The penis and testicles are still enlarging. 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 an adult appearance.

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 formed. In stage II, the pubic hair appears, fine and hypopigmented. The mammary bud appears, with an increase in the areola (which protrudes). In stage III, the pubic hair curls and increases in quantity; its pigmentation also increases. The breasts also increase in size, i.e., they begin to grow.

In stage IV, the hair becomes increasingly curly and coarse. The areola forms a small elevation on the breast. The breasts continue to increase in size.

Finally, the biological changes in adolescence, at the sexual level in girls, in stage V, are: a curly and abundant hair; on the mons pubis, the hair forms a triangle; the lips also increase, the breasts mature and the areola forms part of their contour, and the nipple protrudes.

Other changes of adolescence

Biological changes in adolescence are very important because they influence the adolescent's personality. they influence the adolescent's personality, as well as the way he/she thinks, grows, relates to others, sees him/herself, and sees the world around him/her.…

That is why we cannot only focus on the biological changes, since, at a psychological level, there are also many changes 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 well-known fact; in adolescence, interest in sex and sexuality is born and grows.. The first sexual contacts, touching, ejaculations... All this, logically, is influenced by the biological changes in adolescence, which make sexual maturity possible.

2. Thinking and social relations

Abstract thinking is gradually consolidated. On the other hand, at the social level there is an increasing separation from the family, and social relations increase (or at least, the interest in the family). (or at least, interest in them) increases.

At this stage, social groups become very important for the configuration of each individual's personality, which is in full process. The adolescent is in search of himself, of 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

There are also changes in the voice, which becomes deeper (especially in boys), the size of the respiratory organs (lung and larynx) increases, there is an excess of sebaceous gland activity... The latter is what causes acne, for example.

Bibliographic references:

• Christie, D. & Viner, R. (2005). Adolescent development. British Medical Journal, 330(7486):301-304.
• Mafla, A.C. (2008). Adolescence: biopsychosocial changes and oral health. Medical Colombia, 39(1): 41-57.
• Rahola, R., Garde, T.M., Cozzetti, E. et al. (2002). Adolescence: biological, psychological and social considerations. Manual of Reproductive Health in Adolescence: