Timing of pubertal growth and maturation in the first Zurich longitudinal growth study.

Definitions and normal age values are given for start, peak and end of the pubertal growth spurt. In spite of a sex difference in chronological age and bone age, general maturity at the start and at the peak of the growth spurt was identical in both sexes, i.e. it occurred at the same stage of skeletal maturation and at the same relative distance from adult height. Normal values for the main steps of sexual maturation are also given. The overall pattern of the growth spurt, skeletal maturation and sexual maturation was strikingly similar in both sexes.