During which Tanner stage do females experience an elevation of the areola contour?

The correct answer is that during Tanner stage 2, females experience an elevation of the areola contour. Tanner stages are a widely recognized method for assessing the development of secondary sexual characteristics in children and adolescents.

In Tanner stage 2, typically around ages 8 to 13, girls begin breast development, which is marked by the budding of the breast tissue. This initial stage involves an increase in breast size and an elevation of the areolar contour. The areola initially becomes rounded and elevated as glandular tissue starts to develop beneath the skin.

Understanding the Tanner stages is vital as they outline the physical development during puberty, indicating when specific bodily changes occur. In contrast to other stages, stage 2 is particularly notable for the beginning changes in breast development that set the foundation for further maturation in subsequent stages. As development progresses into stages 3 and 4, changes continue, such as further enlargement of the areola and breast. However, stage 2 is the stage where the initial elevation of the areolar contour is first observed.