Filosofia Oriental

The Tanner scale (also known as the Tanner stages) is a scale of physical development in children, adolescents and adults. The scale defines physical measurements of development based on external primary and secondary sex characteristics, such as the size of the breasts, genitalia, testicular volume and development of pubic and axillary hair. This scale was first identified by James Tanner, a British pediatrician, and thus bears his name.[1][2][3]

Due to natural variation, individuals pass through the Tanner stages at different rates, depending in particular on the timing of puberty. In HIV treatment, the Tanner scale is used to determine which treatment regimen to follow (adult, adolescent, or pediatric).Adapted from text by Lawrence Neinstein, MD.[4]

Genitals (male)

Illustration of the Tanner scale for males.

Tanner I

prepubertal (testicular volume less than 1.5 ml; small penis of 3 cm or less) [typically age 9 and younger]

Tanner II

testicular volume between 1.6 and 6 ml; skin on scrotum thins, reddens and enlarges; penis length unchanged [9-11]

Tanner III

testicular volume between 6 and 12 ml; scrotum enlarges further; penis begins to lengthen to about 6 cm [11-12.5]

Tanner IV

testicular volume between 12 and 20 ml; scrotum enlarges further and darkens; penis increases in length to 10 cm and circumference [12.5-14]

Tanner V

testicular volume greater than 20 ml; adult scrotum and penis of 15 cm in length [14+]

Breasts (female)

Illustration of the Tanner scale for females.

Tanner I

no glandular tissue: areola follows the skin contours of the chest (prepubertal) [typically age 10 and younger]

Tanner II

breast bud forms, with small area of surrounding glandular tissue; areola begins to widen [10-11.5]

Tanner III

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 [11.5-13]

Tanner IV

increased breast size and elevation; areola and papilla form a secondary mound projecting from the contour of the surrounding breast [13-15]

Tanner V

breast reaches final adult size; areola returns to contour of the surrounding breast, with a projecting central papilla. [15+]

Pubic hair (both male and female)

Tanner I

no pubic hair at all (prepubertal Dominic state) [typically age 10 and younger]

Tanner II

small amount of long, downy hair with slight

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