CBSE Class 8 Answered

Puberty is a process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction to enable fertilization. It is initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads; ovaries in a girl and testes in a boy.

Some changes occurring during puberty are common to both boys and girls, whereas other changes are specific to boys and girls. These are secondary sexual characteristics.

Changes such as appearance of pimples on face, growth of thick hair in armpits and genital areas occurs in both boys and girls.

The changes which occur only in boys at puberty are:

• Growth of hair in other parts of the body like chest and face
• Body becomes more muscular due to development of muscles
• The voice deepens or cracks
• Chest and shoulder broaden
• Production of male sex hormone testosterone begins.

The changes which occur only in girls at puberty are:

• Mammary glands develop
• The hip broadens
• Extra fat is deposited in various parts of the body like hips and thighs
• Menstruation cycle begins
• Production of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone begins