What is “Puberty” and what causes it?
556 A: Puberty is the process that occurs when a child grows into a sexually mature individual. Puberty is caused by a secretion of hormones. Hormones are natural signaling chemicals that actually cause bodily changes and growth in skin, hair, bones, organs, and muscles. First, areas in the brain called the Hypothalamus and the Pituitary Gland send growth hormone signals the testicles or ovaries which causes the secretion of sex characteristic hormones. Boys produce testosterone (or androgens) in the testicles and girls produce estrogens in the ovaries. These androgen or estrogen hormones cause males and females to develop differently.
