Hormons for growing up.

 The human body goes through many changes from birth to old age. The glands and organs of the endocrine system produce the hormones that triggers different stages of development. The most important period of change is adolescence- the transition from a child to adult. During this stage of rapid growth is called puberty, the body changes shape and the reproductive organs develop. A hormone In the brain triggers puberty, while other hormones regulate functions, such as growth, mood, and sleep.

Hormones for puberty 

Hormones are the chemical messengers that travel between the body's organs and tissues. They can only instruct the cells that have the right receptors to detect them, so many different hormones are involved in a chain of events of puberty.

The starting point 

Puberty begins in the brain between the age of 9 to 12, an area of the brain called hypothalamus. Sends messages to the pituitary glands to release hormones that start the process of puberty, by instructing other glands to produce hormones.

Growth hormone 

The body grows very fast during puberty - and growth hormone (HGH) is the driver of growth spurts. It is released by the pituitary gland and affects all the parts of the body. Making muscles and organs larger and bones longer.

Teenage spots

During puberty, hormones called androgens stimulate the skin's oily sebaceous glands. Before they settle down to normal production, the newly activated glands can produce too much oil. Skin pores become blocked, causing blackheads. If the trapped oil gets infected, the area becomes inflamed and spots appeared.

Maturing brain 

As hormones level go up and down, teenagers can experience emotional highs and lows. Adolescence is the time of great upheaval in the brain too. It is clearing out millions of neural connections that are no longer needed, forming more efficient networks of nerve pathways, and learning to control rapidly growing limbs and muscles. These factors affect thinking and behavior, and many teenagers feel clumsy and moody.

Raging hormones  

As well as affecting the physical make up of the brain,  hormones alter the behavior of teenagers.

Sleep papatterns 

Teenagers need more sleep than children or adults. A hormone called melatonin helps people fall asleep. This is released later in the evening for teenagers,  which is why they struggle to get up in the morning. 

Taking risks 

Teens sometimes do risky things without thinking of the consequences. They lack judgement because of although the thrill seeking part of the brain is fully formed,  the decision making area is still maturing. 

Moodliness

Alterations in hormones levels,together with changes in parts of brain that deal with emotions, can cause teenage mood swings and impulsive behavior or aggressive behavior. 

Clumsiness 

Teens may feel clumsy and uncoordinated at times. This happens because their body shapes are changing and the brain is struggling to make new neuron connections fast enough to keep pace.