Precocious puberty

Precocious puberty is the onset of pubertal development earlier than the usual age range. It can result from premature activation of the brain’s reproductive hormone pathway or from hormone production outside that pathway.

Central precocious puberty: Early pubertal development caused by premature activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This is the form driven by early activation of the usual reproductive hormone pathway.
Puberty: The developmental process through which a child acquires reproductive maturity and adult secondary sex characteristics. Precocious puberty is puberty that begins unusually early.
Luteinizing hormone: A pituitary hormone that stimulates the gonads and serves as a marker of reproductive-axis activation. Basal or stimulated levels help distinguish central from peripheral causes.
Adult height: The final stature reached after growth plates mature and longitudinal bone growth ends. Early skeletal maturation can shorten the time available for childhood growth.
Premature thelarche: Isolated breast development in a young child without the usual progression of puberty. It can look like early puberty but often remains limited and nonprogressive.
Peripheral precocious puberty: Early pubertal development caused by sex hormones produced independently of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal activation. This form produces pubertal changes without the brain’s reproductive axis switching on early.
Thelarche: The onset of breast development, usually the first visible sign of puberty in girls. Breast development is a common early sign assessed when puberty begins prematurely.
GnRH stimulation test: A diagnostic test measuring pituitary gonadotropin responses after administration of a GnRH agonist. The response helps determine whether the reproductive hormone axis is activated.
Epiphyseal plate: A growth region of developing bone where new tissue enables bones to lengthen. Sex hormones accelerate its maturation and eventual closure.
Premature adrenarche: Early adrenal androgen effects, such as pubic hair or body odor, without gonadal puberty. It produces some pubertal signs but does not itself mean the reproductive axis is active.

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