DPS MATHURA ROAD, NEW DELHI

CLASS VIII (2023 -2024)

Chapter 10: Reaching the age of Adolescence; Part 1 (SV)

Adolescence & Puberty

Q. 1 Define Adolescence.
The period of life, when the body undergoes changes, leading to reproductive maturity, is
called adolescence.
Adolescence begins around the age of 11 and lasts up to 18 or 19 years of age. Since this
period covers the ‘teens’ (13 to 18 or 19 years of age), adolescents are also called
“teenagers”.(In girls, adolescence may begin a year or two earlier than in boys. Also, the
period of adolescence varies from person to person.)

Q.2 What is Puberty?

The period of adolescence during which adolescent boys and girls reach sexual maturity and
become capable of reproduction is called puberty. Puberty ends when an adolescent reaches
reproductive maturity
Changes at Puberty
Increase in Height
The most conspicuous change during puberty is the sudden increase in height. At this time the
long bones, that is, the bones of the arms and the legs elongate and make a person tall.
The rate of growth in height varies in different individuals. Some may grow suddenly at
puberty and then slow down, while others may grow gradually.
• By the age 11, a boy has reached 81% of his probable full height, while a girl has
reached 88% of her full height.
• By the age of 18 years, approximately both reach their maximum height. •
Calculation of height=
Present height____ x 100
% of full height at this age

Initially, girls grow faster than boys but by about 18 years of age, both reach their maximum
height.
Q. 3. It is believed that height of a child depends upon the genes inherited from parents.
However, it is often seen that tall parents may have short children and vice versa. Are
there factors other than genes that can cause these variations?
Height of a person is not just relied on the hereditary character. It depends on the type of food
they eat, physical exercise they do. These also help in the growth of bones, muscles and other
parts of the body.
Change in Body Shape
Q.4 State two ways in which the body shape of boys changes during puberty.
In boys, Shoulders generally broaden.
Muscles of the body grow more prominently.

Q.5 State two ways in which the body shape of girls changes during puberty. In girls, the
region below the waist becomes wider. The body muscles comparatively grow less.

Breasts begin to develop at puberty. This also changes the body shape of grown-up girls and
makes them look different from boys.

Voice Change
At puberty, the voice box or the larynx begins to grow. Boys develop larger voice boxes. The
growing voice box in boys can be seen as a protruding part of the throat called Adam’s Apple.
In girls, the larynx is hardly visible from the outside because of its small size. Generally, girls
have a high-pitched voice, whereas boys have a deep voice. In adolescent boys, sometimes,
the muscles of the growing voice box go out of control and the voice becomes hoarse. This
state may remain for a few days or weeks after which the voice becomes normal.
Q.6 What is Adam’s Apple? Which of the two usually have an Adam’s Apple: grown up
boys or grown-up girls?
The bigger or larger voice box in a grown-up boy can be seen as a bulge or projection in
front of the throat or neck. The bulge or projection at the front of the throat for neck in grown
up boys is called Adam's Apple.
Adam's Apple is formed in grown up boys because of their bigger voice box in the throat. It is
a feature of throat or neck of grown-up boys. It is a bulge or bump in the throat or neck.

Increased Activity of Sweat and Sebaceous Glands

Q. 7 Specify any one gland which transports secretions through ducts.

Sweat glands / oil glands/ salivary glands

Q. 8 What is an endocrine gland? Name any two endocrine glands.

Gland which does not have a duct and secretes it product directly into the bloodstream is
called an endocrine gland. It is also called ductless gland. Example: Ovaries, Testes
Q.9 Which glands in our skin produce oil?
Sebaceous glands
Q.10 Many young people get acne and pimples on the face at the time of puberty. Give
reason.
Because of the increased activity of sweat glands and sebaceous glands (oil glands) in the
skin.
Development of Sex Organs
Q.11 Specify the male and female sex organs which develop completely at puberty.
At puberty, male sex organs like the testes and penis develop completely. The testes also begin
to produce sperms. In girls, the ovaries enlarge and eggs begin to mature. Also, ovaries start
releasing mature eggs.
Reaching Mental, Intellectual and Emotional Maturity
Q. 12 Mention the significance of adolescence.

• Adolescence is a period of change in a person’s way of thinking during which an

adolescent reaches the state of mental, intellectual and emotional maturity. •
Adolescents are more independent than before and are also self-conscious. •
Intellectual development takes place and they tend to spend considerable time
thinking.
• It is the time in one’s life when the brain has the greatest capacity for learning. •
Sometimes, however, an adolescent may feel insecure while trying to adjust to the
changes in the body and mind. But there is no reason to feel insecure.
Secondary Sexual Characters
Q13. Define secondary sexual characters.

All those features that help to distinguish the male from the female are called secondary
sexual characters.

Q. 14 Mention any two secondary sexual characters that are seen in boys and girls
The 2 features seen in boys at puberty are:

• Growth of facial hairs (moustaches and beard)

• Hoarseness in voice
The 2 features seen in girls at puberty are:

• Breast development
• Region below the waist becomes wider
Q.15 Give a suitable word for each of the following statements.
(a)The site which responds to a hormone. Target site
(b) Chemicals which control changes at adolescence stage. Hormones
Q.16 Name the female hormone produced by ovaries that helps in development of
mammary glands.
Estrogen is the female hormone produced by ovaries that helps in development of mammary
glands.
Q. 17 What are sex hormones?
The hormones which help and control the formation of secondary sexual characters are
called sex hormones.
Q. 18 (i) State any two roles of the male sex hormone ‘testosterone’.
Testosterone hormone performs the following functions:

1) Produces male secondary sexual characteristics in boys at puberty like growth of facial
hair, broad shoulders etc.
2)Causes growth and development of male sex organs at puberty.
(ii) State any two roles of the female sex hormone ‘estrogen’.
Estrogen hormone performs the following functions:
1) Produces female secondary sexual characteristics in girls at puberty like high pitched
voice, development of breast etc.
2)Causes growth and development of female sex organs at puberty.
Q.19 Which gland regulates the production of sex hormones?
Pituitary gland
Q. 20 The onset of puberty is controlled by hormones. Explain with the help of a
flowchart.

SHEETAL SRIVASTAVA(SV)

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