Puberty changes everything!

Ahhh... Puberty. 

It is the cruellest period in your life where you transition from childhood to adulthood.  Yes, we're referring to the time where boys get a deeper voice and get hairy (but don't worry, not like in the picture). And the time where girls get wider hips and pronounced breasts. (And when both sexes get acnes all over their faces!) The physical characteristics we mentioned are brought about by puberty and are all secondary sex characteristics.

Secondary sex characteristics appear when your body matures and prepares itself for reproduction. It is caused by hormones of the endocrine system which are normally released during puberty. In females, the ovarian follicles mature every month after the onset of puberty. These maturing follicles release a hormone called estrogen which initiates the development and maintains the secondary sex characteristics in female. It targets hair follicles, mammary glands, breasts, and adipose tissue. Overall result is the growth of underarm and pubic hair, enlargement of breasts, and the accumulation of fats on hips and thighs. 

Secondary sex characteristics that develops during puberty

In males, the testes produce the hormone called testosterone which is responsible for the development and maintains the secondary sex characteristics in male. It targets hair follicles, muscles, bones, and also the larynx. This hormone would make the boys grow facial, body, underarm, and pubic hairs, increase muscles, grow taller, and have deeper voices.

Puberty hit early?

Now don't you worry. Puberty only happens once in our life! Once you got through this phase, you'll never have to experience it again! But, guys, don't take puberty as purely horrifying. Puberty prepares YOU and your body to be able to do the important things in life.

References:

• Chapter 13: Endocrine System [Internet]. [cited 2015 Feb 7] . Available from: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/ap/holehaap/outlines/chapt13.pdf
• Greaver J. Secondary Sex Characteristics: Definition, Lesson & Quiz [Internet]. Educational Portal; [cited 2015 Feb 7] . Available from: http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/secondary-sex-characteristics-definition-lesson-quiz.html
• Boys' Secondary Sex Characteristics [Internet]. American Academy of Pediatrics; [2013 Jun 11, cited 2015 Feb 7] . Available from: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/Boys-Secondary-Sex-Characteristics.aspx
• Girls' Secondary Sex Characteristics [Internet]. American Academy of Pediatrics; [2013 Jun 11, cited 2015 Feb 7] . Available from: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/Girls-Secondary-Sex-Characteristics.aspx