Page 182 - Meeting with Children Book

P a ge | 180

deepen; their shoulders broaden; hair grows under the
arms, on the face, around the genitals, and on other parts
of the body; the testes produce sperm; and the penis and
other reproductive organs enlarge.

Puberty involves distinctive physiological changes in an
individual's height, weight, body composition, sex
characteristics, and circulatory and respiratory systems.
These changes are largely influenced by hormonal activity.
"The accelerated growth in different body parts happens at
different times, but for all adolescents it has a fairly regular
sequence. The first places to grow are the extremities (head,
hands, and feet), followed by the arms and legs, and later
the torso and shoulders. This non-uniform growth is one
reason why an adolescent body may seem out of
proportion. During puberty, bones become harder and more
brittle.

Before puberty, there are nearly no differences between
males and females in the distribution of fat and muscle.
During puberty, males grow muscle much faster than
females, and females experience a higher increase in body
fat. The ratio between muscle and fat in post-pubertal
males is around 1:3, while for females it is about 5:4. An
adolescent's heart and lungs increase in both size and
capacity during puberty; these changes contribute to
increased strength and tolerance for exercise." Boundless
Psychology (2016)

What can be expected from a normally
developing 13-18 year old?