Puberty (사춘기)

In the U.S., the average age at which puberty begins is 12 for girls and 14 for boys.

     This series of changes and events can stretch over 6 months or as long as 6 years, depending on the person, and it varies with ethnicity(민족성) and geography as well.

 

 First the adrenal glands begin to produce more hormones.

 

 The hypothalamus releases a hormone that instructs the pituitary gland to release two more hormones ― luteinizing hormone(황체형성호르몬) and folicle-stimulating hormone(여포자극호르몬) ― to initiate sexual development. In boys, these substances instruct the testes to start pumping testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, the male hormones, throughout the body.

 

 During puberty, the sex hormones in both boys and girls trigger rapid growth that generally brings them close to their adult height, which they reach after puberty.

 

The growth stops when the sex hormones close the growth zones on long bones.

 

 

 Testosterone causes the skin to generate more oil, which leads to adolescent acne.

Experiencing puberty a few years earlier or later than average is often hereditary.

The onset of puberty is earlier in parts of world with more sunlight exposure.