Normal Pubertal Development: Part II: Clinical Aspects of Puberty
July 2011
in “
Pediatrics in review
”
TLDR Accurate assessment of puberty using Tanner staging is crucial for identifying normal and abnormal development.
The article discussed the clinical aspects of normal pubertal development, focusing on the Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR) or Tanner staging system. This system provided a method to document a child's progression through puberty by inspecting physical changes. Separate scales were used for breast development in females, genital development in males, and pubic hair development in both sexes. The stages ranged from prepubertal (stage 1) to complete and adult-like development (stage 5). The article highlighted the importance of these stages in indicating the onset and progression of puberty, such as thelarche in girls and testicular enlargement in boys.
