Tanner stages
Paediatrics
Also known as: Sexual maturity rating · Tanner-Stadien · Pubertätsstadien nach Tanner · Tanner evreleri · Tanner stages (sexual maturity rating)
What it is for
Tanner stages (sexual maturity ratings; Marshall and Tanner) grade pubertal development from 1 (prepubertal) to 5 (adult), separately for breast (B) and pubic hair (PH) in girls and genital (G) and pubic hair development in boys.
Classification
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Breast, girls (B1–B5) | B1 elevation of the papilla only (prepubertal); B2 breast bud: breast and papilla raised as a small mound, areola widened; B3 further enlargement of breast and areola with no separation of their contours; B4 areola and papilla project as a secondary mound above the breast; B5 mature: only the papilla projects, the areola having receded to the general contour of the breast. |
| Genitals, boys (G1–G5) | G1 testes, scrotum and penis as in early childhood; G2 enlargement of scrotum and testes, scrotal skin reddens and changes texture; G3 penis grows, mainly in length, with further growth of testes and scrotum; G4 penis grows in breadth with development of the glans, testes and scrotum larger, scrotal skin darker; G5 adult size and shape. |
| Pubic hair, both sexes (PH1–PH5) | PH1 none (prepubertal); PH2 sparse, long, slightly pigmented downy hair, straight or slightly curled, mainly along the labia or at the base of the penis; PH3 darker, coarser, more curled hair spreading sparsely over the pubic junction; PH4 adult-type hair over a smaller area than in adults, not reaching the medial thighs; PH5 adult quantity and type, inverse-triangle distribution, spreading to the medial thighs (later spread up the linea alba is sometimes called stage 6). |
| Onset of puberty | B2 in girls and G2 (testicular enlargement) in boys mark the clinical onset of puberty. |
Source
Variations in pattern of pubertal changes in girls; Variations in the pattern of pubertal changes in boys
Arch Dis Child 1969;44:291–303 and 1970;45:13–23 (Marshall WA, Tanner JM)
PMID: 5785179
- Edition
- Marshall and Tanner 1969 (girls) and 1970 (boys); unchanged reference descriptions
- Checked on
Summary of the published classification in our own words. Not a substitute for the original publication.
A question about this classification?
Medelix answers clinical questions from guidelines and studies – every statement with its source.