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The Tanner scale is a tool that allows to determine the stage of sexual maturity of children, adolescents and adults on the basis of the structure of the genitals and breasts (in the case of girls and women). The name of the Tanner scale comes from its creator, British physician James Mourilyan Tanner. This scale is used primarily by pediatricians who use it to assess puberty in boys and girls.
How to use the Tanner scale?
Scale Tannera is used to classify girls and boys in terms of their sexual development. In order to assess the stage of maturation at which a young man is at a given moment, the appearance of the breasts and the womb area in girls and the size of the penis, testicles, scrotum and pubic hair in boys should be assessed.
There are two versions Tannera scales – one is designed to assess the sexual development of girls, the other is used to assess the development of boys. There are five stages of development in both versions. XNUMXst degree or stage in Tannera scales is the period before puberty, and the XNUMXth degree is reaching full sexual maturity.
In the case of Tannera scales designed to assess the development of girls, the steps are as follows:
Grade I: slight prominence of nipples and nipples, no hair in the pubic area.
Grade II: Breasts are slightly arched, the nipple is enlarged, the first hairs appear in the pubic area.
Grade III: Breasts clearly enlarged, nipple enlarges also, pubic hair becomes clearly visible and appears not only around the labia but also on the pubic mound.
Stage IV: The nipple creates an additional prominence on the breast. The pubic hair becomes dense but does not grow in the thigh area.
Grade V: The breasts look like adult women, the nipple is raised, the breasts become rounded. Pubic hair can also appear around the thighs.
Scale Tannera developed for boys looks as follows:
Grade I: The testicles are approximately 2,5 cm in size, the scrotum and penis are similar in size and proportion to early childhood, and no pubic hair.
Grade II: The testicles are slightly enlarged (about 3 cm in size), the penis is slightly longer and wider, pubic hair appears at the dorsum of the penis.
Grade III: The testicles are visibly larger and are approximately 3,6 cm in size. The penis and scrotum get enlarged. Pubic hair still grows mostly around the back of the penis, but becomes thick and curly.
Stage IV: The testicles become approximately 4,1-4,5 cm in size. The penis begins to correspond to the length of the scrotum and becomes longer and wider. Pubic hair becomes dense and also appears on the mound of the pubis, but does not grow in the area of the thighs. The skin on the scrotum becomes darker (it is related to its greater pigmentation).
Grade V: The testicles are approximately 4,5 cm in size. The reproductive organs (penis and scrotum) resemble the organs of an adult male. Pubic hair also appears around the thighs.
When used Tannera scales no instruments are needed for girls – the pediatrician assesses the patient’s development simply by looking at her build. For boys, classification by Tannera scales requires the use of a special instrument called an orchidometer to assess the size and volume of the testicles. This device consists of 12 or more ovals of different sizes, strung on a string, which allow to determine exactly what stage in terms of sexual development the patient is at at any given time. Typically, in an orchidometer, ovals correspond in volume to 1 to 25 ml.
Scale Tannera it is used by paediatricians and family doctors on the occasion of child balance examinations. It is also useful for pediatric endocrinologists. Due to the specificity of the study and assessment of sexual development according to Tannera scales it is recommended that a doctor carries out such an assessment in the case of boys, and a doctor in the case of girls. Assessment of the degree of sexual maturation according to Tannera scales it is important because it allows to detect deviations from the norm and introduce early possible treatment of their causes, for example hormone therapy. Thanks Tannera scales Sexual development can be assessed in children (there may be deviations from the norm in the form of accelerated, premature puberty), adolescents and adults.