Biological Foundations

Question 1

endocrine system

Answer 1

a network of glands in the body.the glands coordinate function & affect the development and functioning of the body using hormones

Question 2

hormones

Answer 2

chemicals, that affect the development & functioning of the body, including development during puberty

Question 3

puberty

Answer 3

the changes in physiology, anatomy, & physical functioning that develop a person into a mature adult biologically & prepare the body for sexual reproduction

Question 4

hypothalamus

lower part of the brain under cortex

Answer 4

in charge of the endocrine system/ releasing hormones

stimulates & regulates the production of hormones by other glands, including the ones involved in the initiation of puberty

Question 5

GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone)

Answer 5

hormone that causes gonadotropins to be released

by the pituitary gland

Question 6

leptin

Answer 6

a protein, produced by fat cells, that starts puberty

that signals the hypothalamus to initiate hormonal changes of puberty

Question 7

pituitary gland

base of brain

Answer 7

a gland that releases a hormone to prepare the body for reproduction

that releases gonadotropins as part of the body’s preparation for reprod

Question 8

gonadotrophins

Answer 8

hormones (FSH & LH) that stimulate the development of gametes

Question 9

FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)

Answer 9

along with LH, stimulates the development of gametes & sex hormones in the ovaries & testicles

Question 10

(LH) luteinizing hormone

Answer 10

along with FSH, stimulates the development of gametes & sex hormones in the ovaries & testicles

Question 11

gonads

Answer 11

the ovaries & testicles
AKA the “sex glands”

Question 12

sex hormones

Answer 12

androgens & estrogens that cause development of primary & secondary sex characters

Question 13

estrogens

Answer 13

the sex hormones that have especially high levels in females from puberty onward & are mostly responsible for female primary & secondary sex characteristics

Question 14

androgens

Answer 14

the sex hormones that have especially high levels in males from puberty onward & are mostly responsible for male primary & secondary sex characteristics

Question 15

estradial

Answer 15

the estrogen most important in pubertal development among girls

Question 16

testosterone

Answer 16

the androgen most important in pubertal development among boys

Question 17

ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)

Answer 17

the hormone that causes the adrenal glands to increase androgen production

Question 18

feedback loop

Answer 18

system of hormones which monitors & adjusts the levels of the sex hormones

involving the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, & the gonads,

Question 19

set point

Answer 19

optimal level of sex hormones in the body. when this point is reached, responses in the glands of the feedback loop cause the production of sex hormones to be reduced

Question 20

adolescent growth spurt

Answer 20

the rapid increase in height that takes place at the beginning of puberty

Question 21

peak height velocity

Answer 21

the point at which the adolescent growth spurt is at its maximum rate

Question 22

asynchronicity

Answer 22

uneven growth of different parts of the body during puberty

Question 23

extremities

Answer 23

the feet, hands, and head

Question 24

primary sex characteristics

Answer 24

the production of eggs & sperm & the development of the sex organs

Question 25

secondary sex characteristics

Answer 25

bodily changes of puberty not directly related to reproductions

Question 26

menarche

Answer 26

a girl's first menstrual period

Question 27

ovum

Answer 27

mature egg that develops from follicle in ovaries about every 28 days

Question 28

spermarche

Answer 28

beginning of development of sperm in boys' testicles at puberty

Question 29

vulva

Answer 29

external female sex organs, including the labia majora, the labia minora, & the clitoris

Question 30

labia majora

Answer 30

part of vulva; Latin for "large lips"

Question 31

labia minora

Answer 31

part of vulva; Latin for "small lips"

Question 32

clitoris

Answer 32

part of vulva in which females' sexual sensations are concentrated

Question 33

a majority of girls do not experience ovulation within the first 2 years of menstruation

Answer 33

true

Question 34

breast buds

Answer 34

the first slight enlargement of the breast in girls at puberty

Question 35

areola

Answer 35

area surrounding the nipple on the breast, enlarges at puberty

Question 36

vital capacity

Answer 36

the amount of air that can be exhaled after a deep breath, which increases rapidly during puberty, especially for boys

Question 37

BMI (body mass index)

Answer 37

a ratio of height to weight; ___ thresholds for obesity are determined by medical authorities & vary depending on age group

Question 38

maximum oxygen intake

Answer 38

a measure of the ability of the body to take in oxygen & transport it to various organs; peaks in the early 20's

Question 39

cardiac output

Answer 39

a measure of the quantity of blood pumped by the heart

Question 40

health promotion

Answer 40

efforts to reduce health problems in young people through encouraging changes in the behaviors that put young people at risk

Question 41

secular trend

Answer 41

a change in the characteristics of a population over time

Question 42

reaction range

Answer 42

term that genes establish a range of possible development & environment determines where development takes place within that range

Question 43

incest taboo

Answer 43

the prohibition on sexual relations between family members. believed to be biologically based, as children born to closely related parents are at higher risk for genetic disorders

Question 44

PMS (pre-menstual syndrome)

Answer 44

the combination of behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms that occur in some females the week before menstruation

Question 45

semenarche

Answer 45

a male's first ejaculation

Question 46

age graded

Answer 46

organized by age, for example in schools

Question 47

nature-nurture debate

Answer 47

debate over the relative importance of biology & the environment in human development

Question 48

theory of genotype (--->) environment effects

Answer 48

theory that both genetics & environment make essential contributions to human development but are difficult to unravel because our genes actually influence the kind of environment we experience

Question 49

passive genotype (--->) environment effects

Answer 49

situation in biological families that parents provide both genes & environment for their children, making genes & environment difficult to separate in their effects on children's development

Question 50

evocative genotype (--->) environment effects

Answer 50

occur when a person's inherited characteristics evoke responses from other in their environment

Question 51

active genotype (--->) environment effects

Answer 51

occur when people seek out environments that correspond to their genotypic characteristics

Question 52

mikveh

Answer 52

a ritual bath that Jewish Orthodox women are obliged to take a week after their period as a way of cleansing themselves of the impurity believed to be associated with menstruation