FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

Which Tanner stage includes the development of characteristics such as enlarged areolas and pubic hair?

1. Tanner stage II

2. Tanner stage III

3. Tanner stage IV

4. Tanner stage V

The correct answer is: Tanner stage III

Tanner stage III is characterized by significant physical development during puberty, particularly in sexual maturation. In this stage, both males and females experience distinctive changes: 1. In females, breast development progresses with the enlargement of areolas and buds, marking the transition from Tanner stage II. During this phase, there is also noticeable pubic hair development, which becomes coarser and darker, indicating further progression in sexual maturity. 2. In males, this stage may include growth of pubic hair and penile enlargement, although breast development is not applicable here. The development of enlarged areolas and the presence of pubic hair are hallmark signs of Tanner stage III, distinguishing it from the earlier stage, where initial breast budding and fine vellus pubic hair may first appear, and from later stages where more mature characteristics are present. Understanding the Tanner stages is essential for assessing normal sexual development and identifying any potential concerns in growth patterns during adolescence.