Patient's question:
Recently, I feel that my son has started to develop. His voice has changed a bit, and he's becoming more like a little man. I want to know the specific characteristics of boys' development. What are the developmental timeline and features of boys?Doctor's answer:
Adolescence refers to the transitional period from childhood to adulthood, generally occurring between the ages of 10 and 20. Generally speaking, females begin puberty earlier and end it earlier than males. Male sexual development is primarily characterized by the enlargement of the testes, increased thickness and length of the penis, along with sexual development features such as nocturnal emissions. Due to the appearance of the Adam's apple, the voice also becomes noticeably deeper, and facial bones undergo corresponding changes. The middle stage of adolescence lasts about 1.5 years, during which it is a period of rapid growth, with an annual growth rate exceeding 10 cm. Afterward, the growth rate sharply declines until it completely stops. When a boy starts to grow a beard, there is generally no further room for height increase.