Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Pubertad
Puberty (PYOO-ber-tee)
The time of life when a child experiences physical and hormonal changes that mark a transition into adulthood. The child develops secondary sexual characteristics and becomes able to have children. Secondary sexual characteristics include growth of pubic, armpit, and leg hair; breast enlargement; and increased hip width in girls. In boys, they include growth of pubic, face, chest and armpit hair; voice changes; penis and testicle growth, and increased shoulder width.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.