ADOLOESCENCE (The high school learners)
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL LEARNER
ADOLESCENCE - is a stage of human development that coincides with puberty, a
biological development occurring at the average age of 11 for girls and 12 for boys.
There are factors, however, which contribute to early puberty and delayed puberty and
delayed puberty. These factors include heredity, diet, exercise and socio-environmental
influence.
Early and late maturation in adolescence accompany the cognitive and socio-
emotional development of adolescents. In this situation, the teacher must be an
understanding teacher who can provide guidance and support to adolescent learners in
their high school years
Defining ADOLESCENCE
ADOLESCENCE - is a period of transition in terms of physical, cognitive and socio-
emotional changes. The period of adolescence begins with the biological changes of
puberty. The specific ages for this period vary from person-to-person but early
adolescence characterized by puberty may come at the ages of 11 and 12 middle
adolescence may meet identity issues within the ages of 14 and 16 and late
adolescence marks the transition into adulthood at ages 17-20.
PUBERTY CHANGES
Throughout life, growth hormones condition gradual increases in body size and
weight. Hormone flooding during adolescence causes an acceleration known as
growth spurts. Growth spurts include a change in body dimensions (leg length,
shoulder, width, trunk length). Spurt in height is ascribed the trunk growth rather than
leg growth.
In girls, the growth spurts generally begin at age 10 reaching its peak at age 11
and a-half, while slow continual growth occurs for several more years. For boys, growth
spurts begin at the age 12 reaching a peak at age 14 and declining at age 15 and a half,
while slow continual growth continues on for several more years.
Among girls, 98% of adult height is generally reached at age 16, while boys do so at
age 17. Growth in height is conditioned by stages in bone maturation. The muscles also
grow in terms of size and strength. Similar growth spurts occur for weight, muscle size,
head and face maturation, and the reproductive organs.
All muscular and skeletal dimensions appear to take part in the growth spurts during
adolescence.
FACTORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT
The series of hormonal changes accompanying puberty is complex.
Hormones are powerful and highly specialized chemical substances that interact with
bodily cells. Hormonal changes in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands signal the
entire process of sexual maturation. The process entails secretion of gonadotropic
hormones by the anterior pituitary at the base of the brain near the geometric center of
the head. Gonads which are the ovaries for the female and the testis for the male are
stimulated by the gonadotropic hormones, in turn stimulating their own, hormones this
stimulation case the secretion of testosterone in the male sex organ and estrogen in
the female ovary.
In the male, testosterone stimulates male characteristics comprised by spermache
enlargement of the testis gland that produces sperm in the scrotum, growth of the
penis male organ for copulation, capacity for ejaculation of male sperms, voice
change, facial hair development or beard growth, and continuing growth of public
hair. Occurring late in puberty, the lowering of the voice caused by enlargement of
the larynx and double lengthening of the vocal cords is viewed to be most obvious
aspect of adolescent development.
In girls, estrogen secretion triggers the beginning of breast enlargement,
appearance of public hair, widening of the hips, and menarche or first menstruation.
The elevation of the female breast is the first external sign of puberty in girls,
accompanied by growth of the uterus and vagina. Generally, girls achieve menarche
beginning age 11 until age 13. There are ethnic differences such as African
American and Euporean American girls exhibiting secondary sex activities as early
as 8 and 9 years; menarche as early as 11 and 12 years, respectively.
In contrast with menarche, spermache signals the first sign of puberty and sexual
maturity in boys. The need to discharge semen- mixed with a sticky fluid produced
by the prostate gland- occurs periodically. Discharge of semen occurs during the
sleep caused by sexual dreams. It may also occur during conscious manipulation of
the male sexual organ known as masturbation. Religion strictly prohibits
masturbation that is coupled with sexual fantasies, but science liberally regards
masturbation as a nnormal phenomenon unless it becomes a habitual aberration
that may affect confidence in heterosexual (boy-and-girl) relationship.
THE SECULAR TREND
The secular trend is a phenomenon of more rapid physical maturation during this
century this century. In the 1800s, girls in industrial societies had their first menstrual
period at age 15-17 and age later in repressed societies. Today boys reach their
maximum height at age 18-20 and 13-14 for girls, but adult height 100 years ago was at
23-25 for boys and 19-20 girls. The secular trend is ascribed to varied factors, such as:
interaction of genetic and environmental influences, improved health care and living
conditions, and control of infectious diseases. Better nutrition is a major factor since this
provides more protein and calories for humans from conception appears to be leveling
off while the experience of secular trends is just starting in peasant economies of the
world.
