In this module, you will learn:
- the ages when puberty starts
- the physical changes during puberty
Resources to help you:
- Textbook: page 150
- Notebook: page 41
What is puberty?
Puberty is the stage of growth where your body starts to sexually mature.
In girls, this takes place around 10 to 12 years old while in boys, this takes place around 12 to 14 years old.
Some of the changes are inside your body, e.g. producing testosterone in male and estrogen in female.
Others are physical changes e.g. development of muscles in male or breasts in female.
One of the changes in boys in puberty is growth of facial hairs.
Credit: @Sorapop via YayImages
Watch the next 3 videos
See how the body changes in puberty in boys and girls.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlfsGKDoVIQ
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8PyEVacaVA
Enlargement of breasts is an example of secondary sexual characteristics in girls.
Credit: @cteconsulting via YayImages
Secondary Sexual Characteristics
Secondary sexual characteristics refer to the physical changes in boys and girls during puberty that are not directly related to reproduction.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aREAIE-GyDc
Changes during Puberty
Physical Changes in Boys | Physical Changes in Girls |
|---|---|
Growth of facial, body (chest, armpits, legs) hairs and pubic region | Growth of hairs in the armpits and the pubic region |
Shoulders grow broader | Hips widen |
Voice deepens (low pitch) | Voice softens (high pitch) |
Body becomes more muscular | Breasts starts to grow bigger (enlarge) |
Male reproductive organs (testes) starts to mature and produce sperms | Female reproductive organs (ovaries) starts to mature and release eggs (ova) |