Tanner staging
Also written as: SMR — Sexual Maturity Rating
Standardized system for assessing sexual maturation and pubertal development in children.
Full Definition
Tanner staging is a standardized classification system developed by James Tanner to assess the degree of sexual maturation and pubertal development in children and adolescents. The system uses a 5-stage scale (Tanner 1-5) to evaluate breast development and pubic hair growth in females, and genital development and pubic hair growth in males. Tanner staging provides objective documentation of pubertal progression and helps identify normal versus abnormal patterns of sexual development, guiding decisions about endocrine evaluation and treatment for precocious or delayed puberty.
Usage
Usage note: Document specific Tanner stages (1-5) for breast/genital development and pubic hair separately.
In Context
- "Physical examination revealed Tanner stage 2 breast development in the 9-year-old female." — Endocrine consultation note
- "The adolescent male demonstrated Tanner stage 4 genital development consistent with normal pubertal progression." — Sports physical examination