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Pubertal Development

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Adolescent Gynecology

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Abstract

The germ cell complement in the human female is established prior to the time of her birth. This characteristic contrasts to germ cell production in the male. Whereas in the male, germ cells are continually produced throughout reproductive life, in the female, the pool of germ cells designated within the ovaries at birth undergoes progressive depletion until reproductive capacity concludes at the time of menopause. Because of this progressive decline in germ cell complement, termination of reproductive potential in the female customarily occurs at an earlier age than in the male. This basic difference in reproductive potential between male and female in the human requires review of gonadal embryology and ovarian physiology through that point at which the full range of ovarian functions has been established.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 10914, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Edward E. Wallach

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania Hospital, 19107, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Edward E. Wallach

  3. Departments of Pediatrics and Pediatrics in Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 19014, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alfred M. Bongiovanni

  4. Department of Perinatal Endocrinology, Pennsylvania Hospital, 19107, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alfred M. Bongiovanni

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, 19107, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alfred M. Bongiovanni

Authors
  1. Edward E. Wallach
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  2. Alfred M. Bongiovanni
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alfred M. Bongiovanni M.D.

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© 1983 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Wallach, E.E., Bongiovanni, A.M. (1983). Pubertal Development. In: Bongiovanni, A.M. (eds) Adolescent Gynecology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8324-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8324-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-8326-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-8324-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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