PSY 3105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Pubic Hair, Industrial Revolution, Sleep Deprivation

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 3105
• Professor: David Collins

Document Summary

Puberty is derived from the latin word pubescre which means to grow hairy. The body undergoes a biological revolution that dramatically changes the adolescent s anatomy, physiology, and physical appearance. Endocrine glands produce hormones that control growth. Endocrine system includes pituitary gland and gonads. Gonads are the ovaries in females and the testes in males. Gonads produce sex hormones such as estrogens and androgens. If you don"t have any in ux of hormones in the fetal period the baby, by default, will be female. H p g production of androgens/estrogens loop back to the hypothalamus or are used to produce secondary sexual characteristics. Hypothalamus monitors the levels of sex hormones. When levels are too low, the hypothalamus signals the pituitary. Pituitary signals gonads this produces more hormones. At puberty, set point for hormones rises increased hormones indicate physical and sexual development. The hypothalamus monitors levels of androgens and estrogens in the bloodstream.