Science

Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

LESSON 11.1
Puberty
Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Learning Competency 2

Learning Objectives 2

Warm-Up 2

Learn about It 3
Puberty 3
Sex Characteristics 4
Gonadarche 5
Hormones and Puberty 7

Key Points 8

Check Your Understanding 8

Bibliography 9
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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

Lesson 11.1
Puberty

The teenage years are a time of growth spurt and puberty changes.

Introduction
Do you notice any changes happening in your body recently, such as your voice changing?
How about noticing a difference in certain body parts like in your shoulders or hips? These
observable changes are normal and mark the beginning of puberty, a stage in human
growth and development when one becomes physically mature. Puberty prepares the body
for reproductive maturity. When a person becomes reproductively mature, it means that
the person is now physically prepared and capable of reproduction. What are the changes
that happen during puberty? How do these changes come about?

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

Learning Competency
At the end of this lesson, the given DepEd learning competency should be met
by the students.
● Explain the role of hormones involved in the female and male
reproductive systems (S10LT-IIIb-34).

Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Cite the changes that happen in the human body during puberty.
● Discuss how hormones are involved in initiating changes during puberty.

Warm-Up

Changes During Puberty

Materials
● drawing materials
● slips of paper containing the text below (see procedures)
● tape
● two illustration boards, ¼ size

Procedure
1. Draw an outline of a human being on each of the illustration boards.
2. Create small slips of paper containing the following texts:
● acne ● growth of facial hair

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

● Adam’s apple is more visible ● hips become wider

● armpit hair ● increased armpit sweat
● broader shoulders ● increased height
● deeper voice ● menstruation
● development of breasts ● pubic hair
3. Stick the small slips of paper based on what changes occur during puberty into the
corresponding parts. For example, “development of breasts” must be stuck to the
chest area of the female outline on the illustration board.
4. Do this for all the characteristics.

Guide Questions
1. What changes are common to males and females?
2. Do these changes occur gradually?
3. What is the reason for all these changes occurring?

Learn about It

Puberty
Puberty typically starts at ages 8–13 for females, and about 9–14 for males. However, it
may vary from individual to individual.

Puberty is initiated by various hormonal signals from the brain to the reproductive organs
or gonads. In response to the signals, the gonads produce hormones that promote the
growth and maturation of different parts of the body, such as muscles, skin, hair, and
breasts. The changes between males and females vary, but the common denominator
between both sexes is the preparation of the body for reproductive maturity. The primary
glands that are involved in puberty include the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus.

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

Essential Questions
As a grade 10 student, you are still experiencing some of the changes
caused by puberty. What are the changes that occur during puberty? What
do you think causes these changes?

Sex Characteristics
Primary Sex Characteristics
Primary sex characteristics refer to organs specifically needed for reproduction. These
organs are the vagina, uterus, and the ovaries in females and the penis and testes in
males. The ovaries and vagina are considered the female primary sex characteristics
because these are directly involved in reproduction. The ovaries are for producing egg cells,
whereas the uterus is where the fetus develops after fertilization. Vagina primarily serves as
the birth canal The male primary sex characteristics include the testes that produce sperm
cells and the penis that delivers the sperm cells. All these structures become more
developed during puberty.

Humans cannot reproduce without the primary sex organs. However, this is not to say that
the other organs of the reproductive system are less important. These also serve the
supporting functions that allow proper reproduction or conception to occur.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

The physical characteristics that develop during puberty are called secondary sex
characteristics. Examples of secondary sex characteristics are the growth of facial hair in
males, the development of breasts in females, or the growth of armpit hair for both sexes.

The primary hormones that affect the development of secondary sex characteristics are
testosterone for males and estrogen for females. These hormones are produced by the
gonads (i.e., testes for males and ovaries for females), and production is increased during
puberty. This leads to the development of secondary sex characteristics during and after the
age of puberty.

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

Many characteristics are different for males and females, although some of them are
shared by both. Many of these are not directly involved in reproduction. However,
some of these secondary sex characteristics may aid in reproduction or pregnancy. An
example of a secondary sex characteristic that aids in pregnancy is the development of
wider hips for females. This allows for more space for the fetus and aids in childbirth.

Fig. 1. Examples of secondary sex characteristics include the growth of armpit hair in both
sexes and the growth of facial hair in boys.

Gonadarche
Gonadarche refers to the development of the reproductive organs, or gonads, during
puberty. The gonads in males are the testes and the ovaries in females. When the brain
releases pituitary gonadotropins, the gonads grow and mature. This also causes an increase
in the production of sex hormones by the gonads.

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

Fig. 2. The changes that occur during puberty among male and female individuals

Precocious puberty refers to puberty that starts earlier than the average, whereas delayed
puberty starts later than the average.

The major sign of puberty in males is the first ejaculation, which occurs, on average, at age
13. The major sign of puberty for females is the first menstruation, which occurs, on
average, between ages 12 and 13.

Table 11.1.1. Most common signs of puberty

Boys Girls

Growth of hair in pubic regions Growth of hair in pubic regions

Increase in size and strength of muscles Enlargement of breasts

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

Enlargement of the larynx and deepening of

Beginning of menstruation
voice

Widening of shoulders Broadening of hips

Further development of testes Further development of ovaries

Growth of hair in armpits Growth of hair in armpits

Hormones and Puberty

The changes in puberty are largely influenced by hormonal activity. Hormones play an
organizational role and an activational role during puberty. The organizational role of
hormones is to prime the body to behave in a certain way once puberty begins. The
activational role of hormones is to trigger certain behavioral and physical changes. The
hormones that influence puberty are secreted by the endocrine glands: the hypothalamus,
the pituitary gland, and the gonads.

Fig. 3. The changes that occur during puberty are influenced by the hypothalamus, pituitary
gland, and gonads.

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

Remember
Puberty is a stage when a lot of changes happen in the body. Everyone
experiences this stage at some point in their lives. The changes
experienced during puberty are normal and are important preparations
for reproduction.

Key Points

● Puberty happens in preparation for sexual maturity. Various hormonal signals

initiate it from the brain to the reproductive organs or gonads.
● Primary sex characteristics refer to organs specifically needed for reproduction.
● The primary sex organs of males are the penis and testes. The ovaries, uterus,
and vagina are for females.
● Gonadarche refers to the development of the reproductive organs, or gonads,
during puberty.
● The hormones that influence puberty are secreted by the endocrine glands: the
hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and gonads.

Check Your Understanding

A. Write male if the change during puberty happens only in males, and female if it only
happens in females. Write both if it occurs for males and females.
1. growth of hair in pubic regions
2. growth of hair in armpits
3. increase in size and strength of muscles
4. beginning of menstruation
5. enlargement of breasts

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Grade 10 • Unit 11: Hormones and the Reproductive System

6. widening of shoulders
7. enlargement of the larynx and deepening of voice
8. broadening of hips
9. further development of testes
10. further development of ovaries

B. Write true if the statement is accurate and false if otherwise.

1. The primary sex organs of females are the cervix and the ovaries.
2. An example of a secondary sex characteristic of females is the growth of facial hair.
3. Gonadarche refers to the first menstruation.
4. Gonadotropins are required for the gonads to mature.
5. The testes produce testosterone necessary for puberty.

Bibliography

“Hormonal Control of Human Reproduction.” Boundless Biology. Lumen. Accessed August

26, 2016.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/hormonal-control-of-
human-reproduction/.

Norman, Anthony W., and Helen L. Henry. +RUPRQHV. London: Academic Press, 2014.

O'Donnell, K. 7KH5HSURGXFWLYH6\VWHP. The Rosen Publishing Group, 2001.