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Tanner Scale of Pubertal Status

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	STAGE 1: testicular volume less than 1.5 ml; small penis of 3 cm or less (prepubertal)	no pubic hair at all
9–11	STAGE 2: testicular volume between 1.6 and 6 ml; skin on scrotum thins, reddens and enlarges; penis length unchanged	Small amount of long, slightly pigmented, downy hair, along the base of the scrotum.
11–12.5	STAGE 3: testicular volume between 6 and 12 ml; scrotum enlarges further; penis begins to lengthen to about 6 cm	Moderate amount of more curly, pigmented, and coarser hair; more lateral extension.
12.5–14	STAGE 4: testicular volume between 12 and 20 ml; scrotum enlarges further and darkens; penis increases in length to 10 cm	Resembles adult hair in coarseness and curliness, but does not extend to the medial surfaces of the thighs.
14+	STAGE 5: testicular volume greater than 20 ml; adult scrotum and penis of 15 cm in length	Adult pattern.

Female Stages

typical age (years)	Stages	pubic hair
10 and younger	STAGE 1: no glandular tissue: areola follows the skin contours of the chest (prepubertal)	no pubic hair at all
10–11.5	STAGE 2: breast bud forms, with small area of surrounding glandular tissue; areola begins to widen	Small amount of long, slightly pigmented, downy hair.
11.5–13	STAGE 3: breast begins to become more elevated, and extends beyond the borders of the areola, which continues to widen but remains in contour with surrounding breast	Moderate amounts of more curly, pigmented hair: more lateral.
13–15	STAGE 4: increased breast size and elevation; areola and papilla form a secondary mound projecting from the contour of the surrounding breast	Resembles adult public hair in coarseness and curliness, but does not extend to the medial surfaces of the thighs.
15+	STAGE 5: breast reaches final adult size; areola returns to contour of the surrounding breast, with a projecting central papilla	Adult pattern.