Final answer:
Pubertal growth represents a significant phase where adolescents experience a rapid increase in height, contributing substantially to their final adult height. The adolescent growth spurt starts earlier in girls than in boys, influenced by factors such as genetics and nutrition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pubertal growth accounts for a significant percentage of an individual's adult height. During the adolescent growth spurt (AGS), boys and girls experience a rapid increase in height. It usually begins between 8 and 13 years for girls and between 10 and 16 years for boys, contributing greatly to their final adult stature. For girls, this period typically lasts until about 15 years old, while for boys it can continue until 17 years old. On average, females may grow up to 3 inches per year during this spurt.
Growth during puberty is impacted by several factors including genetics, nutrition, and overall health. While the exact percentage of adult height gained during puberty varies among individuals, the AGS is a time of particularly rapid growth comparable only to that of infancy. In summary, puberty is a crucial period for height development in adolescence.