PUBERTY: Role Of Endocrine System In The Onset And Regulation Of Puberty; Disorders Associated With Puberty.

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