What term is used to refer to the period of rapid growth and sexual maturation?

The term that refers to the period of rapid growth and sexual maturation is puberty. This phase typically begins in early adolescence and marks significant physical changes in the body, including the development of secondary sexual characteristics, growth spurts, and hormonal changes. Puberty is characterized by the onset of menstruation in females and the deepening of voices and increased muscle mass in males, alongside other physical developments.

While adolescence is closely related and encompasses the broader social and emotional changes that occur during this time, puberty specifically refers to the biological process of maturation. Infancy and childhood denote earlier stages of development and do not involve the same rapid physical changes or sexual maturation, making them less relevant to the concept of this specific growth period.