Question 1

Which of the following statements about prenatal development is not true?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

Which of the following statements suggests that rising levels of the protein leptin is an important signal that tells the body it is ready for puberty?

Accepted Answer

Leptin is a protein produced by fat cells that acts on the hypothalamus to regulate appetite and metabolism. In addition, high levels of leptin are associated with the onset of puberty in humans. Therefore, the statement that excessive thinness can delay the onset of puberty suggests that rising levels of the protein leptin is an important signal that tells the body it is ready for puberty.

Question 3

The hormonally induced increase in the rate of growth in height and weight is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The adolescent growth spurt is a rapid increase in the rate of growth in height and weight during puberty, which is triggered by hormonal changes. This spurt typically occurs between the ages of 10 and 14 for girls and 12 and 16 for boys.

Question 4

Adrenarche contributes to the development of body ______, signaling the beginning of sexual maturation to others.

Accepted Answer

Adrenarche is the maturation of the adrenal glands, leading to the production of androgens such as testosterone. These androgens are responsible for the development of body odor, which signals to others the onset of sexual maturation.

Question 5

The physical transformation from child to adult is called:

Accepted Answer

The physical transformation from child to adult is known as puberty.

Question 6

Which of the following is not part of the feedback loop in the endocrine system?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid hormones are not part of the feedback loop in the endocrine system. The feedback loop involves the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads.

Question 7

Hormones play two very different roles in adolescence. _______ hormones program the brain to behave in certain ways, whereas _______ hormones are thought to stimulate development of the secondary sex characteristics.

Accepted Answer

Organizational hormones program the brain during puberty, while activational hormones stimulate development of secondary sex characteristics during puberty. Testosterone and endocrine hormones are types of hormones, but do not accurately explain their roles in adolescence.

Question 8

The simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and _________ stimulates rapid acceleration in height and weight during puberty.

Accepted Answer

Androgens are responsible for the rapid acceleration in height and weight during puberty.

Question 9

The presence or absence of certain hormones early in life may "program" the brain and the nervous system to develop in certain ways later on. These hormones are considered:

Accepted Answer

Organizational hormones, present early in life, play a crucial role in structuring the brain and nervous system, influencing their development and functioning in later stages.

Question 10

Which of the following is not thought to contribute to the onset of puberty?

Accepted Answer

The onset of puberty is influenced by factors such as the presence of sexually mature partners, the individual's health and readiness for reproduction, and the availability of nutritional resources. The development of primary sex characteristics, however, is a result of puberty, not a contributing factor to its onset.

Question 11

According to the textbook, puberty involves all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The other three options are commonly recognized as key components of puberty, while increases in intellectual functioning are not typically associated with this developmental stage.

Question 12

Up until about eight weeks after conception, the human brain is ______ until it is exposed to certain hormones.

Accepted Answer

Up until about eight weeks after conception, the human brain is considered feminine until it is exposed to certain hormones, which then may lead to the development of masculine characteristics.

Question 13

The stimulation by maturation of adrenal glands is called

Accepted Answer

The correct term for the stimulation by maturation of adrenal glands is "adrenarche," which is often misspelled as "adrenche."

Question 14

Of all the developments that take place during the second decade of life, the only one that is truly inevitable is:

Accepted Answer

Puberty is the only development during the second decade of life that is biologically determined and inevitable for all individuals. While identity exploration and romantic relationships are common experiences during this time, they are not universal and may not occur in the same way for everyone. Rebellion against parents is also not a necessary or inevitable developmental milestone.

Question 15

The term puberty refers to the period during which:

Accepted Answer

Puberty is the stage in life when an individual becomes capable of sexual reproduction, marked by the maturation of the reproductive system and the production of sex hormones.

Question 16

When levels of _____ and _____ fall below the set points, the _____ stops inhibiting the pituitary gland, thus permitting it to stimulate the release of sex hormones by the gonads.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for inhibiting the pituitary gland's release of sex hormones when levels of androgens and estrogens are at the set point. When these levels fall below the set point, the hypothalamus stops inhibiting the pituitary gland, allowing it to stimulate the release of sex hormones by the gonads. Leptin and thyroid hormones do not directly affect sex hormone release by the gonads, and adrenal gland hormones are not involved in regulating sex hormones in this way.

Question 17

Professor Radon is studying the _________ system, which produces, circulates, and regulates levels of hormones in the body.

Accepted Answer

The endocrine system is specifically responsible for producing, circulating, and regulating levels of hormones in the body. The adrenal system is a subset of the endocrine system, and while the circulatory and respiratory systems interact with the endocrine system, they are not specifically responsible for hormone regulation.

Question 18

Which of the following affect the onset of puberty?

Accepted Answer

Genetics play a significant role in the onset of puberty, as certain genes are responsible for the production and regulation of hormones involved in puberty. Additionally, the number of fat cells in the body can affect puberty, as fat cells produce estrogen which can trigger the onset of puberty. Finally, the amount of light exposure can impact puberty through its influence on the production of melatonin, a hormone involved in regulating the onset of puberty. Therefore, all of the choices are correct.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the production of hormones at puberty is false?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The body has been producing hormones prior to puberty, but the production increases and changes during puberty.

Question 20

The average girl in the United States reaches _________, the time of her first menstrual period, sometime between the ages of 12 and 15.

Accepted Answer

Menarche refers to a girl's first menstrual period, which typically occurs between the ages of 12 and 15 in the United States. Spermarche refers to a boy's first ejaculation, which usually occurs a few years later. Puberty refers to the overall period of physical development that leads to sexual maturity, which includes both menarche and spermarche. Adrenarche refers to the maturation of the adrenal glands, which leads to the development of pubic hair and body odor, but does not involve the reproductive organs.

Quiz 1: Biological Transitions