Puberty (idea)

The last stage of human physical development before reaching adulthood. The primary changes are:

• growth of the physical form
• development of the primary sexual characteristics: maturation of the gonads (testes/ovaries) and the production of gametes (semen/ova) and discharge of these from the body (ejaculation/menstrual cycle).
• development of the secondary sexual characteristics: in males:
  • lowering of the voice
  • thickening and darkening of pubic and body hair
  and in females
  • development to breasts
  • thickening and darkening of body and pubic hair
• emotional changes which may have help humanity survive when we all lived in caves, but which are not obviously helpful in modern life.