Fig. 3
From: Insight into human pubertal growth by applying the QEPS growth model
Illustration of four individuals with the pubertal growth divided to the P- and QES-functions. The increase in height during the pubertal years is shown; to the left, showed in cm, to the right, expressed as SD-scores (SDS). The vertical solid gray lines show the individual onset of puberty adjusted to zero by subtracting AgeP5. The upper solid black line showing the individual height function, T, expressed in cm, with the actual measurements indicated as circles (girls) or squares (boys), the gray solid line showing the mean T values, and the dotted gray lines representing ±2 SD-scores. The solid blue line showing the individual height function QES expressed in cm, the solid light blue line showing the mean QES values, and the dotted light blue lines representing ±2 SD-scores. The solid red line shows the individual specific P-function expressed in cm, the solid light red line showing the mean P values, and the dotted light red lines representing ±2 SD-scores. At the right side are the corresponding QEPS height SD-scores for the individual showed in relation to the mean T, QES and P-functions, where the sum of P and QES give the total growth, T. Upper left panel shows a girl with a low and decelerating QES-function heightSDS to −2.0, a P-function heightSDS around +1.2, resulting in a T-function heightSDS of −1.7 and an adult height of 157 cm. Upper right panel shows a girl with an above average and increasing QES-function heightSDS from +0.8 to +1.7, a low P-function heightSDS of −2.2 with a resulting T-function height SDS from +1.0 to +0.4 (170 cm). Lower left panel shows a boy with a decelerating QES-function heightSDS from −0.2 two years before puberty to −1.0 at adult height, a P-function heightSDS around +2.0 with a resulting T-function adult heightSDS of −0.1 (179 cm). Lower right panel shows a boy with a high and accelerating QES-function heightSDS from +1.8 two years before puberty to +3.0 at the end of puberty, a P-function height SDS of −0.7 with a resulting T-function heightSDS at adult height of +3.0 (200 cm)