Abstract
The endocrine system is a system of
glands, each of which secretes a type of hormone directly into the bloodstream
to regulate the body. Many of the body's hormones influence growth, such as
growth hormone, thyroxine, insulin, and corticosteroids (all of which influence
growth rate), leptin (which alters body composition), and parathyroid hormone,
1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D, and calcitonin (all of which affect skeletal
mineralization). However, the key hormone in growth is GH which is mediated by
growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SS). Growth hormone
secretion is increased by GHRH and decreased by somatostatin. Both growth
hormone levels and IGF-I (somatomedin-C) levels rise during puberty. An increase
in physical size is a universally recognized event of puberty. At puberty, both
sex steroids and growth hormone participate in the pubertal growth spurt. Puberty is the period of life that leads to
adulthood through dramatic physiologic and psychologic changes (Tanner, 1962). During
this period reproductive competence is attained (Styne, 1994). It is initiated by hormone
signals from the brain to the gonads
(the ovaries
and testes).
Table of Content
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..
Gender and pubertal differences……………………………………………………
Body composition…………………………………………………………………..
Tanner’s stages of puberty……………………………………………………………
Development of gonadal
function……………………………………………………
Factors
influencing onset of puberty…………………………………………………
Neurohormonal process of puberty…………………………………………………..
Neuroendocrine control switch for puberty………………………………………….
Central signals regulating gnrh secretion……………………………………………
Disorders of puberty………………………………………………………………..
References