Which explanation would the nurse provide for the lower overall height differences in adolescent girls compared with boys?

A. Maturation of structural appendages of the skin is incorrect because skin changes, such as increased sebaceous activity, hair growth, or acne, are secondary sexual characteristics that do not influence linear growth or final adult height. B. Hypertrophy of the laryngeal mucosa is incorrect because this primarily contributes to voice deepening in boys and is unrelated to skeletal growth or height differences between genders. C. Increase in overall muscle mass is incorrect because although boys generally develop more muscle mass during puberty due to testosterone, this is an effect of sex hormones rather than the primary explanation for girls’ shorter stature. Increased muscle mass does influence body composition and weight but does not determine the early cessation of growth in girls. D. Closure of epiphyses because of estrogen secretion is correct. Estrogen plays a crucial role in bone maturation by promoting the ossification of the growth plates (epiphyseal plates) in long bones. Girls typically begin puberty earlier than boys, which means that estrogen levels rise sooner, accelerating epiphyseal closure and ending linear growth at an earlier age. Boys, in contrast, experience a later growth spurt and slower epiphyseal closure due to later androgens (testosterone), allowing for greater overall adult height. This hormonal regulation explains why girls often have shorter final stature than boys, even when accounting for genetics and nutrition.