Tanners classifcation of sexual maturity

Normal Pubertal Development. The application of growth charts to adolescents requires an understanding of normal growth and development during puberty. More than 40 years ago, James Tanner and associates began describing the normal physical changes that occur during puberty. Tanner has noted that "the only thing that is constant about puberty is change. Besides the obvious differences of the genitalia and secondary sex characteristics between males and females, there are also differences between individuals who develop early compared to those who develop later in their teenage years. This context of change must be appreciated when using growth charts with adolescents.

If your institution subscribes to this resource, and you don't have a MyAccess Profile, please contact your library's reference desk for information on how to gain access to this resource from off-campus. Please consult the latest official manual style if you have any questions regarding the format accuracy. An important aspect of the pediatric and adolescent gynecologic examination is an understanding of the various stages of development and when each would typically occur. The Tanner stages, known as sexual maturity ratings, classify the progression of boys and girls through pubertal development. Normal age of onset of puberty in girls is considered to be between 8 and 13 years of age.

Metrics details. We aimed to estimate the median ages at specific stages of sexual maturity stratified by excess weight in boys and girls. The schoolchildren were divided into: i those with excess weight and ii those without excess weight, according to the WHO cut-off points for gender and age. Sexual maturity was self-evaluated by the subjects according to the Tanner sexual development stages, and utilizing median ages for the genitalia, breasts, and pubic hair stages.

Some people with idiopathic scoliosis see their curves continue to worsen into adulthood; others see their curves hold steady once they reach skeletal maturity. As a general rule:. The reason for this discrepancy in curve progression is not known, but the historical data are helpful when clinicians make determinations about whether observation, bracing, or surgery might be best for a patient who is at or near skeletal maturity. See Bracing Treatment for Idiopathic Scoliosis. Determining skeletal maturity is not an exact science.