Gonadarche is best described as what?

• A. Onset of adrenal androgen production
• B. Appearance of sperm
• C. Onset of breast development
• D. Onset of pubertal function of the gonads

Answer: (D)

Gonadarche is the activation of the gonads by the brain, starting puberty through the gonads’ production of sex steroids (testosterone in males, estradiol in females). This is distinct from adrenarche, when the adrenal glands begin producing androgens that contribute to early pubertal changes like body hair and skin/hair oiliness. The appearance of sperm is a consequence of gonadal maturation that occurs after gonadarche, not the initial definition of it. So gonadarche best describes the onset of pubertal function of the gonads—the start of gonadal hormone production driving sexual maturation.