Physiological Changes in Girls During Puberty

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Top Contributors - Khloud Shreif and Kirenga Bamurange Liliane  

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Introduction

Puberty is a normal, vital, physiological process including a series of normal hormonal changes resulting in changes in gonads (testosterone, aldosterone, and progesterone) and reproductive organs to be functionally mature, resulting in the physical development of sexually mature adults, it is a transition stage between the childhood and adulthood period happens in all normal individuals. This process undergoes different factors; hormonal, genetic, environmental, or even nutritional factors.

In African America, it begins around the age of 6, and in white girls starts between 8 and 13 years of age. It is considered the spurt of puberty occurs between 9 and 10 years old.

Physiology Of Puberty

The first changes of puberty are initiated by pulsatile secretion of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons of the hypothalamus. GnRH is transported to the anterior pituitary gland (pituitary gonadotropes) resulting in the synthesis and release of LH and FSH  from the gonadotropic cells of the anterior pituitary gland these hormones affect theca and granulosa cells of the ovary in females and affect the Leydig and Sertoli cells in the testes. This is considered the spurt of physical puberty in individuals.

Secretion of Growth Hormone (GH) from the pituitary gland helps to keep the linear progress of puberty.

FSH increases estrogen production from the ovaries, and LH helps to start the ovulation and creation of corpus luteum in girls. While in boys FSH triggers testicular growth and supports spermatozoa maturation, and LH  increases testosterone production.