Adolescence can be described as the time in a person’s life that starts at puberty and ends at the start of adulthood. This would mostly be the teen years. Adolescence is characterized by physical changes in both males and females. In males, the testes begin to produce sperm. In females, they begin to menstruate.
CHANGES IN THE MALE
Testes produce the male hormone testosterone
The testicles produce sperm
Rapid growth, height, and muscularity
Growth of hair on the face, under arm, chest, and pubic area
Deepening of the voice
CHANGES IN THE FEMALE
The ovaries begin to produce the female hormone estrogen
The ovaries produce eggs
Rapid growth in height
Growth of hair under arms and pubic area
As a result of these changes, teens become very aware and interested in their physical appearance, making friends and getting the attention of the opposite sex. They tend to bond strongly with their peers seeking their approval rather than those of their parents or other authority figures.
