Chapter REACHING THE AGE OF

ADOLESCENCE

N aveen is studying VIII class. He

is so active, remaining idle for
over six months. He even feels shy while
Have you reached the age of
“Adolescence”?
Is mustache growing on your upper lip?
talking to strangers and even with the
relatives visiting their home. If he starts Did your voice change?
speaking, his voice becomes somewhat Are hairs growing under arm pit?
hoarse. He does not care to follow Are there pimples or acne on your face?
suggestions and advises of his parents. He
Are you taking care of your face by
shows restlessness if parents tell him to
applying powder and combing your
pack the baggage or bring goods from the
hairs frequently?
shop. His parents are worried on noticing
his changing behavior. Naveen’s Are you feeling shy when talking with
Grandmother says he is growing now, that opposite sex?
is why he is not listening to their words. Are you not interested to play with
Some of you also may behave like this, opposite sex which you have done
Why? earlier?
Have you noticed that you are growing? Are you showing restlessness while
Usually, we see changes in the age of your parents suggest to do something?
13-19 years. This period is called If your answers are ‘Yes’ for most of the
“Adolescence”. During this period changes above questions it reflects that you are in
are observed inside (internal) and outside adolescence phase.
(external) the body. For example, Changes During adolescence, changes occur in
in voice, growing tall etc. external, internal parts of the body. You will
Do you observe these changes in you show interest to spend time with peers. The
too? Write down the changes usually you changes may be misleading. That could be
observed during your adolescence. one of the reason for worry of your parents.

70 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

Adolescents does not show interest to to these changes and are unable to decide
discuss about the changes with their whether they belong to adulthood or
parents. This is a complex stage of life, childhood. This is the period of confusion
because they grow from childhood to and transition.
adolescence. They have a lot of stress due

Who am I?

No..no
Hey..!
You are too big.
You are a kid.Go and We don’t play
play there only. with you.

Fig-1

Changes at adoloscence
Do you know upto which age you will
Increase in Height grow?
Growth is one of the important Can you guess how much height you
characteristic in human beings. Can we go will get?
on growing through out our life time? We
can’t grow like plants. We grow to certain Activity-1
height for certain period only. This change Observing growth rate
takes place in adolescence. at maximum
The following chart gives the average
pace. You may have observed that you and
rate of growth in height for both boys and
your friends are growing and slowly
girls with age (table-1).
loosing the child like features.
The figures in column-2 and 3 give the
An individual reaches his / her maximum percentage of the height a person has
height during adolescence period only. You reached at the age, as given in column-1.
may also be growing taller now. These figures are only representative
and there may be individual variations.
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 TABLE-1
Age in % of full height(boys) % of full
years height (girls)
8 72 77
9 75 81

Percentage of full height

10 78 84
11 81 88
12 84 91
13 88 95
14 92 98
Age in years
15 95 99
Boys Girls
16 98 99.5
17 99 100 Fig-2

18 100 100

What have you observed from the above I will tell how much height you will
table? Using the data of table-1, graph has grow:
been drawn. Observe the graph and answer Yes. Its real. You can also tell how much
the following questions. height your friend will grow. For this you
When does growth in height nearly need the following formulae.
stop? Present height (cm) X 100 =
Which period of age according to you Maximum height that you may gain
is the fastest growing period for girls? % of full height at this age (as given in
Which period of age is the fastest the chart)
growing period for girls? For example Sneha is 13 years old with
Who do grow faster? How can you say? 125 cm tall. At the end of the growth period
she is likely to be 125/95 X 100 = 131.5
Initially the girls grow faster than boys.
cm.
But by about 18 years of age both reach their
Use the information as given in Table- 1
maximum height. The rate of growth in
and calculate the maximum height that you
height varies in different individuals.
will reach.
Some may grow suddenly and then Table -1 shows that girls grow faster than
growth slows down gradually. boys in their adolescent period. As for

72 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

example by the age of 11, a boy has reached 81 % of his probable full height, while a girl
has reached 88% of her full height. Form a group with six students in your class. Measure
your height and calculate your future heights in the following table.
TABLE-2
Name of the Age Present height Maximum growth in
Student height

The above activity helps you to calculate Collect body measurement data of the
how tall you would be. To reach a proper selected 15 students. For this you need to
height there are several factors involved. observe health record which is available in
One of them is proper nourishment. your school.

Find an average body measurements for

Activity-2 boys and girls in each class separately (If
school health record is not available you
Changes in your body will take teachers help to measure the
Form five groups in your class. Take at components perfectly) record them in your
least 15 students in each class. Your note book as per the table given below.
selection should be random which means (For component under voice, you put
students with Odd role number or name tick ( ) mark in relevant column)
that start with letter ‘S’ etc.

TABLE-3
S.No Name Age Height Chest Shoulder Voice
Soft Horse

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 For each class (VI to X) you have to Generally change in voice is seen during
prepare one table. And then we have to adolescence
calculate averages of the collected the voice of boys become hoarse in this
information with the help of your teacher. stage. Let us know about this.
Find the average for each component
of your table.
What relations do you find in these four
components?
Is there any sudden change or gradual
change that you observe?
Between which classes do you find a
maximum growth in height?

Information collected by you will give Fig-3

a clue to some changes that you notice that
in your body as you grow especially during Adam's apple in an adolescent
a particular period of life, that is the boy
adolescent period. Look at figure 4 and observe some
You might have noticed that boys in your projections at the boy’s throat. Try to see
class have broader shoulders and wider the same things in any of your school mates.
chests than the boys of class 6. In girls the This is known as Adam’s apple.
region below the waist starts becoming The Adam’s apple is actually a partial
wider to prepare the body to deliver baby growth of our voice box or larynx. The
in future. Muscles of the body grow more larynx is made up of 9 cartilages (the kind
prominent in boys than in the girls. Thus of substance that you can feel by bending
changes occurring in adolescent boys and your external ear) one of which is the
girls are different. largest, called as thyroid cartilage. The
adams apple is formed due to elongation
Voice Change
of the thyroid cartilage which protrudes out
If you attend a phone call of a child, in front of the neck .This is caused mainly
can you say whether the child is a boy by some male hormone (regulatory
or a girl? Why? chemicals) during adolescence. As a result
When could you identify the voice of a of this, muscles (chords) attached to the
boy or a girl? Why? cartilage get loosened and thickened.
Why do break in voice commonly When air passes through these loosened and
occer in boys during adolescence? thickened chords a hoarse sound is

74 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

produced. The laryngeal prominence is Development of sex organs
usually more prominent in adult men than
Let us recall about the male and female
in adolescent boys.
reproductive organs already learnt in the
This is the reason for disturbance in previous chapter.
your voice in the stage of adolescence. At
At this age, male sex organs like the
the end of the adolescence stage you will
testes and penis develop completely. The
get perfect voice.
testes also begin to produce sperm. In girls,
Sweat and pimples: the ovary enlarges and eggs begin to mature.
Naturally in adolescence, boys and girls Ovaries also start releasing mature eggs.
take care of their face and looks frequently In girls breasts begin to develop whereas
in mirror. They also feel worried of their in boys, facial hair, moustaches and beards
pimples and acnes. Sometimes these begin to grow. Hair starts growing on the
pimples lead to infection. Can you guess chest of boys. In both boys and girls hair
the reason? grows in the armpits and at the genital
The secretions of sweat and sebaceous region. They are called ‘secondary sexual
glands in adolescents are very active. Many characters’. The sex organs by which
adolescent boys and girls get pimples on children are identified as boys or girls at
the face, because of increased activity of birth represent primary sexual
these glands in the skin. Owing to extra characters.
secretions sometimes a distinctive odor is
also produced from their bodies. Do not Reproductive phase of life in
squeeze the pimples.They make your face humans:
appear with black spots. Reproduction is most important for
What should be done? continuation of human raise. You know the
reproduction take place by the fusion of
Do not scratch the pimples
male and female gametes.
Wash your face regularly with a mild Do you know? When do you get the
soap reproductive capacity?
Use luke warm water to wash pimples Adolescents become capable of
and acne. reproduction when their testes and ovaries
Never get worried of pimples because begin to produce gametes. Actually there
stress and strain may help them to is no specific age; mostly in between 11-
increase. 15 years. It differs from person to person.
(Now a day reaching age of adolescence in
girls become reduced. Some observations
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explains that because of polluted food How does nature prepare the uterus to
material like Estrogen contain milk. This receive the fertilized egg?
fact may also effect the boys and delay the What happens if fertilization does not
reach of the reproductive phase.) The take place?
capacity lasts for a much longer in males In females, the reproductive phase of
than in females. Though their bodies are life begins usually around 10-12 years of
prepared for reproduction physically, age and generally and lasts till the age of
mental growth and maturity are still farway.. approximately 45-50 years. The ova begin
to mature with the onset of adolescence.
Look at the sequential order of
One ovum matures and is released by one
reproductive stage and answer the questions of the ovaries once in about 28 to 30 days.
that follow During this period the wall of the uterus
Male Female becomes thick so as to receive a fertilized
egg and this results in pregnancy. If
Testis Ovary fertilization does not occur, the released
egg and thickened lining of the uterus along
Sperm Ovum with its blood vessels are shed off. This
causes bleeding in women which is called
Waiting for fusiom Menstruation. It is nature's wonderful
at follopian tube phenomena.
At 45 to 50 years of age, the menstrual
Fertilisation Menstruation cycle stops. Stoppage of menstruation is
termed 'menopause'.
Zygote Menstruation occurs once in about 28-
Fig-5 30 days. In some cases, initially menstrual
cycle may be irregular. It takes some time
Schematic diagram of menstrual cycle to become regular. If it remains irregular
and reproduction for over a year, then there is a need to
The first menstrual cycle begins at consult a doctor (gynecologist).
adolescence and is termed as ‘menarche’. People and myths
It is the sign of starting of release of ova in Some sections of people in our society
female reproductive life. believe that during the period of
Do the production of eggs last long in menstruation woman are untouchable. So,
females? they are asked to keep a distance from
others. During this time girls may be
What would happen if ovulation stops? ristricted from taking bath, cooking food
What happens if ovum is not released? or going to school. In that case they may
76 Reaching the Age of Adolescence
lag behind in their studies. In some sections But they did not agree. Teachers and
of the society even women are also forced local social workers and officials stopped
to stay in the huts built at the outskirts of this child marriage. Now she is studying in
the village. the school along with her friends.

Think and Discuss Discuss in your class why child

marriage is a social sin. It should be
In what way this kind of avoided.
discrimination is harmful for girls
Ask your teacher and write how child
and women?
marriages cause damage to her health.
Several researches have been done
to prove that all these are myths and You might know that in our country, the
there is no scientific reason behind legal age for marriage is 21 years for girls
these. The blood and egg that is and 23 years for boys. This is because
discarded would give rise to a baby teenage mothers are not prepared mentally
if fertilization took place. or physically for motherhood.
This a biological phenomena. So Early marriage and motherhood cause
how can it be impure or unclean? health problems for the mother and the
During menstruation period proper child. It also curtails employment
care regarding health and hygiene opportunities for the young woman and
is needed rather than following may cause mental agony, as she is not ready
myths. for responsibilities of motherhood.

Child marriage – A social evil Fast and frigid

Adolescence is the growing age where
Marriage is social and cultural practice
physical changes takes place. Apart from
to produce next generation in our country.
this we may observe some changes in
Before reaching required age to get married
behavior also. Adolescence are very fast in
is an unhealthy issue.
taking decisions. They do not want to be
Child marriage is social evil which forced to do any work, behave sometimes
causes unwanted damage to in their lives. fast and sometimes frigid
Let us read the story of Latha who fought
against her marriage. Activity-3
Latha was studying VIII class in
Read the following check list. Put tick
Bigyaram village of Kodangal Mandal in
( ) mark, which points reflect your
Mahaboobnagar district. Her parents
behaviour.
decided to get her married. She protested
has much as possible.
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 Check list:
Prefers to spend more time before the mirror and like to use perfumes
Do not want to listen to parent’s suggestions
Feels only friends are correct not parents
Searching for identity from teachers and peer groups
Want more independence in taking decisions
Feeling responsibility in work allotted at school, house
Showing risk taking behavior
Taking decisions by critical thinking
Sometimes feel shy sometimes feel happy
If try to get friendship with opposite sex
Inclined towards unhealthy habits
Having more self consciousness
Show more sensitive towards others emotions
Do you know why you behave like this. Adolescents behave in a different
You know what is good what is bad. But you manner as compared to what they did
people are more inclined towards which during childhood with peers and elders.
attracts to you. To make your future in a Adolescents are more independent in
right way, you need to know more about nature and very self conscious.
adolescence. For this here are some points An adolescent feel insecure while
to help. trying to adjust to the changes in the
These are all common in the phase of body and the mind. They seek company
adolescence. Interest towards body and of friends to share their feelings even
self is natural. Attraction towards if they are of the opposite sex. This is
opposite sex is also a normal response. normal. They need a lot of attention,
No one needs to worry. love and care as well as answer to all
their queries regarding their body and
The mind of an adolescent is full of
its developments.
zealous acts and urge to find reasons
It is the first and foremost duty of every
of several things around. They develop
adult to prepare oneself to reveal to the
abstract ideas as well.
adolescent the secrets of nature and the
Emotionally they are in a turbulent state
natural course of life as it is.
all the time they get new thoughts for
Adolescent queries must never go
their life activities.
unanswered
78 Reaching the Age of Adolescence
 Hormones and adolescence
The following figure helps you to know more about hormones that influence on
adolescence. This figure shows the position of a special group of glands called endocrine
glands in the human body. These glands help in the regulation of the functioning of the
human body by releasing some chemicals directly into the blood.

Endocrine System
Pineal Body
Hypothalamus

Pineal Body

Thymus

Thyroid and
Parathyroids

Adrenal Gland
Heart

Kidney

Pancreas

Testis

Male Female

Fig-6 Position of some endocrine glands in the human body

The endocrime glands do not have reproductive system. Physical changes

specialized ducts to do so, they are called during adolescence, starting of menses,
as ductless glands. The secretions of these pregnancy and menopause etc are largely
glands are known as hormones. and directly under the control of these hormones.
released into blood. The endocrine The male hormone 'testosterone' begins
hormones perform several functions in the to be released by the testes at the onset of
body like; Harmones control the sugar adolescence which causes changes in boys.
levels, salt and calcium levels in the blood. In girls ovaries begin to produce the female
Also control water levels of the body. Along hormone 'estrogen' which brings about the
with these endocrine glands play an development of breasts. Milk secreting
important role in development of the glands or mammary glands develop inside
the breasts.

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Following table shows a list of some endocrine glands and some of the hormones
produced by them.

S. No. Gland Hormone Effect

1 Testis Testosterone Release of sperm, secondary sexual
characters in male
2 Ovaries Estrogen Release of ovum, menstruation,
secondary sexual characters in female
3 Pituitary Pituitary Brings about general growth,
hormones like stimulates other endocrine glands.
FSH directs estrogen for formation of
growth hormone,
ovum or eggs in uterus of females,
follicle stimulating
while in males directs testosterone to
hormone (FSH) stimulate sperm sacs to produce
lutenising hormone(LH) sperms. LH causes the egg to burst out
and flow into the fallopian tubes
4 Adrenal Adrenalin Controls emotions
Adolescescence and health that the balanced diet includes proteins,
It is very important to be healthy and fit carbohydrates, fats and vitamins in requisite
at any stage of life. For this, proper proportions. Our Indian meal of roti/rice,
nutrition and hygiene is necessary. So far dal (pulses) and vegetables is a balanced
we have discussed that adolescence is the meal. Milk and Fruits are also useful for
age when growth and development takes nourishment. Iron builds blood and iron
place at a faster rate. That is why it becomes rich food such as leafy vegetables, jaggery,
more essential to be careful about health meat, citrus, Indian goose berry (amla) are
and hygiene in the adolescent period. good for adolescents.
Because of this hunger, adolescents
Balanced diet
generally prefer to eat chips, packed or
Hunger levels of adolescents are very
tinned snacks, road side foods appears to
high. They need to eat different varieties be very tasty, but they should never
of food. This is the stage of rapid growth replaced the balanced diet. Eating them
and development, because the diet for an regularly may cause unwanted problems,
adolescent has to be carefully planned. like obesity. mouth and stomach
Taking healthy and nutritive food is very ulcerations, increase in blood sugar levels
important. and blood pressure etc. So adolescents you
You already studied in the earlier classes must say no to junk food.
80 Reaching the Age of Adolescence
 Cleanliness suggests that you will get relief if you take
some drugs, just say “NO”, unless
We have studied that sweat glands
prescribed by the medical doctor. In case
becomes more active in adolescents and
of having any problems, insecurity or
give body a distinctive odor. So it would
tensions it is better to discuss and take help
better to have bath at least twice in a day.
of your elders, parents, teachers or doctors.
All parts of the body and inner wears should
be washed and cleaned every day. If Do you know?
cleanliness is not maintained there are Consuming tobacco (gutkha,
chances of having fungal, bacterial and cigarettes, cigar, beedi, khaini) damages
other unwanted infections. Girls should the internal organs of the body. The
take special care of cleanliness during the number of addicted people at the age of
time of menstrual cycle. Making use of 15 or below is 57.57 lakhs (68%) in AP.
disposable napkins may reduce chances of When they reach 30 years of age their
infections. internal organ system becomes damaged,
Under NPEGEL scheme girls are and this leads to several problems and
provided sanitary napkins in most of sometimes, may cause death also. It is a
the schools of our state. Write down dangerous trend in our country. So you
the programmes conducted by should be aware of healthy habits.
NPEGEL in your school. A famous psychiatrist Stanly Hall
Physical Exercise stated that adolescence is the age of
stress and strain. By getting proper
Walking and playing in fresh air keeps
guidance From teachers, parents and
the body fit and healthy. All young boys and
elders, you utimatly be able to lead a
girls should take a walk, exercise and play
happy meaning full life.
outdoor games. The physical activity leads to
conditions of better health, sound sleep and there Think and Discuss
by mental peace. Mental peace promotes
If young generation is trapped into such
happiness in day to day existence. Instead
unhealthy habits, what will be the future
of playing outdoor games spending time by
of our country? What are its effects?
watching T.V. or working on computer leads
to drowsiness. That is why you are not able Are you participating in adolescent
to pay attention your studies. education programmes in your school?
Adolescence is a period when many Do you have a membership in red ribbon
changes take place in the body. Because of club? List out the programmes held for
these changes one may get tensed, confused the last three months in your school and
or insecure. In this situation if anybody also add your opinion.
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 Key words

Adolescence, Teenage, Larynx, Adam’s apple, Maturity, Sweat glands,

Sebaceous glands, Secondary sexual characters, Menstruation cycle, Menarche,

What we have learnt

Menopause, Pregnancy, Endocrine glands, Hormones, Testosterone, Estrogen.

Adolescence is the period of reproductive maturity which lies usually between the
ages of 10 to 18 years.
During adolescence a child's body undergoes many changes physically as well as
mentally.
Voice of boys becomes harsh as chords of voice box get loosened and thickened
during adolescence.
Height gain in children during adolescence and stops after words.
The onset of puberty or development of secondary sexual characters and maturity
of reproductive parts are controlled by hormones that become functional at the
onset of adolescence.
Hormones are the secretions of endocrine glands without ducts which secretes
them directly into the bloodstream.
Pituitary glands secrete hormones which include growth hormones and other
stimulating hormones that make other glands such as the testes, ovary, adrenals etc
secrete hormones.
Testosterone is the male hormone and estrogen is the female hormone that bring
about development of several secondary sexual characters.
The uterine wall in female prepares itself to receive the developing fertilized eggs.
In case there is no fertilization, the thickened lining of the uterus wall breaks down
and goes out of the body along with the blood. This is called menstruation.
It is important to take balanced diet for overall growth and development during
adolescence.

82 Reaching the Age of Adolescence

 Improve your learning

1. How is adolescence different from childhood? (AS1)

2. Write short notes on the following. (AS1)
a) Secondary sexual characters
b) Adam’s Apple.
3. List out the changes in the body that take place at the age of adolescence? (AS1)
4. Match the following: (AS1)
1. Testes ( ) a. Estrogen
2. Endocrine gland ( ) b. Pituitary
3. Menarche ( ) c. Sperm
4.Female hormone ( ) d.First menstruation
5. Write five suggestions to improve the performance of Red Ribbon club of your
school? (AS 6)
6. Prepare a three minute speech on behavioural changes in adolescents. (AS6)
7. Why acne and pimples are common in adolescents? (AS1)
8. What can you suggest to your classmates to keep himself / herself clean and healthy?
9. 13 years old Swaroop always think of his height. Can he improve his height? What
you do suggest him? (AS 7)
10.If you have chance to talk with a doctor, what questions your would ask about
adolescent emotions and changes in the body? (AS 2)
11.Nature prepares human body to reproduce her generations. What do you think
of it? (AS 6)
12.You know that early marriage is a social sin. Prepare some slogans to prevent
this. (AS 6)
13.Some mobile phones have auditory meter to measure frequency of produced sound.
By using this phone measure your friend's voice frequency one from each class VI
to X. Report your findings. (AS 3)
14.Are you angry with your parents. What do you want your parents to be? (AS 7)
15.What are your expectations about your parents and teachers? (AS7)
16.Adoloscence is the energistic stage. What health and good habits you want to
develop? (AS 6)

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