Question

. An adolescent generally reaches sexual maturity _____. A. when the primary sex characteristics appear

B. at the onset of puberty
C. at the onset of the adolescent growth spurt
D. after the adolescent growth spurt ends

Answer 1

An adolescent generally reaches sexual maturity at the onset of puberty, the stage where hormones lead to the development of both primary and secondary sexual characteristics.

Step-by-step explanation:

An adolescent reaches sexual maturity at the onset of puberty, which is when both primary and secondary sexual characteristics develop. Puberty involves a series of predictable physical changes controlled by a release of hormones, leading to the maturation of reproductive systems. This stage of development occurs at different ages for different individuals but typically begins between ages 9 and 12 for girls and 11 and 12 for boys.

Puberty starts with the hypothalamus releasing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which spurs the anterior pituitary to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), ultimately leading to the gonads producing sex hormones that drive the physical changes seen during puberty.

Therefore, the final answer is that an adolescent generally reaches sexual maturity at the onset of puberty (Option B). This explanation provides a clear understanding in under 300 words.