The Tanner scale, developed by British pediatrician James Tanner, provides a rating system for the physical development in children and adolescents.
The scale defines physical development based on external primary and secondary sex characteristics. The table below lists the characteristics typical of each stage, such as the size of the breasts, genitals, testicular volume and development of pubic hair.
The typical age listed is a guide only. The tanner stages do not match with chronological age, but rather maturity stages, and that is the main use of these.
Male Stages
typical age (years) | description | pubic hair |
---|---|---|
nine and younger | ![]() |
no pubic hair at all |
9–11 | ![]() |
Small amount of long, slightly pigmented, downy hair, along the base of the scrotum. |
11–12.5 | ![]() |
Moderate amount of more curly, pigmented, and coarser hair; more lateral extension. |
12.5–14 | ![]() |
Resembles adult hair in coarseness and curliness, but does not extend to the medial surfaces of the thighs. |
14+ | ![]() |
Adult pattern. |
Female Stages
typical age (years) | Stages | pubic hair |
---|---|---|
10 and younger | ![]() |
no pubic hair at all |
10–11.5 | ![]() |
Small amount of long, slightly pigmented, downy hair. |
11.5–13 | ![]() |
Moderate amounts of more curly, pigmented hair: more lateral. |
13–15 | ![]() |
Resembles adult public hair in coarseness and curliness, but does not extend to the medial surfaces of the thighs. |
15+ | ![]() |
Adult pattern. |
all Tanner Stage images adapted from those by Michał Komorniczak (Poland) (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license)
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- Measuring Peak Height Velocity
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