The Adolescent (13-20 Years)

Front 1

How much weight & height does the average boy gain during adolescence?

Back 1

Gains 10-30 cm (4 to 12 inches) in height. Gains 7-30 kg (15 to 65lb) in weight.

Front 2

How much weight and height does the average girl gain during adolescence?

Back 2

The average girl in whom the growth spurt is slower and less extensive, gains 5 to 20 cm (2 to 8 inches) in height and 7 to 25 kg (15-55 lbs) in weight.

Front 3

What is the cause of lack of coordination, gawky appearance and poor posture of the adolescent?

Back 3

Growth in lenghth of the extremities and neck precedes growth in other areas, and since these parts are the first to reach adult length, the hands and feet appear larger than normal during adolescence. Increases in hip and chest breadth take place in a few months, followed several months later by an increase in shoulder width. These changes are followed by increases in length of the trunk and depth of the chest. Rapid skeletal growth is often associated with slower muscular growth, as a result some teenagers may appear akward or slump.

Front 4

What is the usual time period during menarche occurs, and the average age of menarche in North American girls?

Back 4

Occurs about 2 years after the appearance of the first pubescent changes aprox. 9 months after peak height and 3 months after attainment of weight velocity. The normal range of menarche is usually 10 1/2 to 15 years. with the average age being 12 years 9 1/2 months for North American girls

Front 5

What is the first pubescent change in boys?

Back 5

The first pubescent changes in boys are testicular enlargement acompanied by thinning, reddening, and increased looseness of the scrotum. Usually occurs between 9 1/2 and 14 years of age.

Front 6

What happens to the sebaceous glands at this time?

Back 6

Sebacceous glands become extremely active at this time, especially those on the genitals and in the "flush areas" of the body (i.e.,face,neck,shoulders,upper back, and chest)

Front 7

What happens to the eccrine and apocrine sweat glands at this time?

Back 7

The eccrine glands, present almost everywhere on the skin become fully functional and respond to emotional as well as thermal stimulation. The appocrine sweat glands are limited in distribution and grow in conjunction with hair follicles in the axillae, around the areola , umblicus,external auditory, and genital/anal regions. Apocrine glands secrete a thick substance as a result of emotional stimulation, that can produce odor.

Front 8

What happens to the heart rate, respiratory rate & BP of the adolescent?

Back 8

The size and strength of the heart, blood volume, and systolic blood pressrue increase, wheras the pulse rate and basal heat production decrease. Blood volume, which has increased steadily during childhood, reaches a higher value in boys than in girls. HR:55-90. RR:16-19 BP is that of adult levels by age 14-18.

Front 9

What is the developmental task of the adolescent according to Erikson?

Back 9

Group idenity vs. alienation. In the period that follows , the individual strives to attain autonomy from the family and develop a sense of personal idenity as opposed to role diffusion. A sense of group idenity appears to be essential to the development of a sense of personal identity.

Front 10

How may the parents and the nurse help an adolescent develop a sense of idenity?

Back 10

In their search for idenity, adolescents consider the relationships that have developed between themselves and others in the past, as well as the directions they hope to take in the future.To achieve full maturity adolescents must free themselves from family domination and define an idenity independant of parental authority.

Front 11

Describe the socialization of the adolescent?

Back 11

Adolescents are usually social, gregarious, and group minded.

Front 12

What is the stage of formal operations?

Back 12

Adolescents are no longer restricted to the real and actual which was typical of concrete thought, they are concerned with the possible. They now think beyond the present. They become increasingly capable of scientific reasonings and formal logic.

Front 13

What is abstract thinking?

Back 13

Adolescents are capable of understanding abstract concepts and of interpeting analogies and symbols. They are able to empathize and think logically. Most teens search for ideals and speculate about illogical statements and conflicting ideologies.