Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1988
FmonaI Produas IS !he atUo' c:J !he bookit1: .1ro:1 ~ 50/(:1)1 rt<.pOn5IbIe /oJ ~ COf1(ere,
Welcome to a wonderful adventure! a doctor. Because his mom is a nurse, he's always
The journey into young adulthood is an exciting gotten straightforward answers to his questions
time-and it's a time about w hich you probably about the changes his body is going through. Just
have a lot of queslions. like Greg, he really likes baseball. In fact, he met
That's why I'd like to introduce you to my friend both Greg and Brad on the Uttle League team.
Greg and his friends Sam and Brad really values his friendship with Greg and
Hmd. They had quite a few Sam. His parents were divorced a few years ago, and
qll('sliollS, 100, and felt that even though he knows his mom loves him and tries
Il\aybe I>y he;) ri Ill-( I heir slory, hard to make everything right at home, it's not the
SOIIW (If YOllr qw'siiolls l1Ii~111 same without his father around. He's a really good
Ill' ollISW(,It,d h I Inll, il lIIily athlete, but sometimes he does things that aren't
Il«'lp YOII ,illS WI 'I qllC 'sl UHIS good for him. like smoking.
YUII'! lI It'VI'1 11111111.\ 111 .Ihoul Brad, Greg and Sam hope that you will learn
"slollg lu ·lolI', something about yourself-about what growing up is
Tilt, (''' IWIII'lIn's 01 (~rcg, all about, both physically and emotionally. You
/Irdd .lI ul S.1I11 II lay 1)(' much might even find that some of their situations are a
IIkt, )/0111 OWl! , Iwl ('ven if they lot like yours. For instance, the way Greg, in par
ill(' lICIt IllIill" you'll like ticular, finds that the way he feels about girls is
tlll'SI ' Ilm'c' It it'lltis as much changing. Or that Brad feels he has to show off to
ilS I d CI. earn the respect of his friends and classmates. And
llt'n,'s it pidurt' of the three that Sam isn't always as sure of himself as he seems
rlmillJfljrllf/. (i/l'g of them and a liUle aboul each olle: to be.
lind Sur//. Through their story, Greg, Sam and Brad hope
Greg is on the quiet side- but he has al l ki nds of you learn that all boys are going through much the
interests. Mostly he likes baseball, basketball and same kind of changes you are. And they think you
astronomy. He saved up for a long time to buy a will find that the most important thing for you to do
telescope. Greg says it's not a real good one, but it is like and respect yourself ... so you can feel com
lets him get a fairly close look at Venus and the fortable with who you are.
moon. He also likes Kate-but he'd never let her
~~
know, even thoug h he's nice to her. If he had a wish,
it would be that he could have had a brother or
sister. (Mostly an older brother.) He also wishes that Susan James
his parents wouldn't corne to his baseball games or
make him go out with them.
Sam thinks that Greg is about his best friend ill Ih('
world, aside from his brothers and sister a ncl Ilis
uncle. Sam is a good student and isn't emiJarl'ils"c ,"
to get good grades, because one day he willlis 10 Itl'
being a kid to becoming an adult. It starts in your have tbe patience to wait that long, Brad:'
head, I think. I mean, there's something in your I was trying hard not to laugh.
brain that sends a message to your body to start "To answer your question, Brad;' he continued, "it
cranking out hormones. That's the way it works for doesn't happen overnight for anybody. And it's im
guys, anyway:' portant to understand that everybody goes at his
"That's the basic idea;' said Mrs. Muller. "In fact, it own pace. That's the way nature works. Here's how
generally works the same way tor boys and girls, it generally happens:' Then he said:
except the hormones are different, and so are the
Male
glands. And of course, what happens once the mes fJelv40pmeni The first stage of development is pre
sage is received is a good deal different. But let's talk (E':ll.'rnal) pubertal, and there is little change in the penis.
about what happens with guys firsl:" In the second stage of development, which
can happen anytime between the ages of 10 and
II/lle When boys reach puberty, the hypothalamus,
~"h'r~ '
15, a boy begins to get pubic hair at the base of
which is like the master switch in the brain,
his penis. At first, this hair will be straight and
sends a message, by way of the pituitary gland,
fine, but later it becomes coarser, curlier, and
to the testicles to start producing a hormone
there will be a lo t more of it. The scrotum
called testosterone. Testosterone is a special
which is the pouch that contains the testes that
male hormone that causes some important and
is at the base of the penis-will start to get red·
exciting changes to take place in a boy's body.
der, or maybe it will just become darker.
The production of testosterone and the changes
During the third stage of development, usual
it causes can start as early as age eight or nine
ly between the ages of 12 and 16, the testicles
or as late as age 15. But the average boy begins
will grow even more. Boys' voices begin to
changing physically at about 12 or 13. How early
deepen when the testosterone causes their
or late you or any other boy starts changing is
vocal chords and larynx to grow larger. (The
mostly determined by what is inherited from
larynx is w hat some people call the Adam's
your parents.
Apple.) Boys also s tart to perspire a lot more at
As the testosterone levels increase in a boy's
this time, especially under their anns, and their
body, he'll begin to develop hair on his body
skin becomes oilier. This oiliness may cause
and face. His penis and testicles will grow. He
some acne. Acne, or pimples, is a common skin
will grow in height, his shoulders will broaden
condition that often occurs during puberty. The
and he'll begin to develop more muscles. As the
basic cause is not known, but it usually disap
hormone levels increase even more, his voice
pears by the late teens or early twenties.
will deepen and his testicles will start produc
In the fourth stage of development, during
ing sperm cells.
which the penis becomes wider, boys s tart to
I almost couldn't believe it, but Brad had his hand up. develop hair on their arms, legs and maybe
He asked, "Just how long does all this take? I'm their chest. They'll also begin to get hair on the
not going to have to wait until I'm in college. am IT'
Then Coach Thomas spoke. "I doubt that you
5 6
upper lip and chin. This will probably be heavy STAGES OF MALE GENITAL DEVEWPMENf
enough to start shaving sometime between the
ages of 14 and 18.
Throughout puberty, there are many changes
that occur-as many emotional ones as physical
"
ones. / /'
"'"
~1(
During this time of change, boys may notice
that their penis may get stiff or hard more U
often. This is called an erection. Although most I
males, from babies to old men, get erections,
this happens a lot more in puberty because of
\ J
the increase in hormones. Sometimes an erec·
STAGE 1 STAGE 2
tion happens for no reason at all-maybe while
riding along in a bus or running on the track.
This is entirely normal and happens a lot to
boys. These erections can last from a few
seconds to a few minutes and aren't nearly as I \
noticeable to others as the boy might think.
Mole
'tdOpl1l1'nt
Testosterone also causes the testicles to begin
producing sperm cells, which are also called
" ";.}~ ,
/' //
In/I'r,wl)
spermatozoa. These speno are too tiny to be
seen and your testicles can produce millions of
speno each day. The speno cells are a man's
contribution to making a baby. When a speno
unites with a female egg cell in a woman's STAGE 3 STAGE 4
Fallopian tube, pregnancy may occur.
STAGE 1: Development before
Then Luis, who was usually even quieter than me, .
p uberty hegins .
blurted out a question. "If you can't see sperm, how do <
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9 10
hanges in Girls.
Even though I felt a lot better about health class
than I had the first time, I hadn't written down my
questions until about the last minute. What I really
wanted to know was things like why a lot of the girls
were bigger than the boys. Like Sam's sister. She's
more than a year younger than Sam and me and is
a lot taller than either one of us.
When Coach Thomas and Mrs. Muller came in the
room, my face didn't even turn red or anything. Some
how, I felt more grown up than I did the last time.
Sam's and Brad's questions were a lot like mine. At
least the ones they wanted to talk about. Anyway,
Coach Thomas said he and Mrs. Muller had looked
at all the questions and there were lots of good ones.
Then Coach said, "It appears that quite a few of the
questions are about girls. We want to let all you girls
11 12
in the class know that we hadn't forgotten you. And FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
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her genital area, will enlarge. She will begin to Each egg is about the size of a grain of sand
perspire Wlder her anns and may develop acne Unlike males, who don't start producing sperm
as puberty progresses. Wltil puberty, females are born with all their
While all her outside changes are happening, eggs. However, they don't start maturing Wltil
she's changing inside, too. Most important puberty.
among these internal changes are those that With the onset of puberty, a girl's vagina be
are going on in her reproductive system. comes deeper, her uterus and ovaries become
larger and the blood supply to the uterus
I could see Sam out of the corner of my eye, and increases.
he looked really nervous. He already knew more Then, when the girl reaches a certain stage of
than anybody about all this stuff, since his mother maturity, all of these organs start to do what
was a nurse and all, but I guess he felt as uncomfort they were meant to do.
able as the rest of us having it explained. Mrs. Muller Each month the ovaries release one mature
kept talking. Now she was telling us about the big egg cell. This egg cell goes into the Fallopian
things, Like how women can have babies. tube. At the same time, the uterus is getting
ready to nourish a baby. The endometrium be
The female reproductive system is made up comes thicker and rich with blood. If the egg is
of her female organs. An organ is a part of your fertilized by a male sperm, it will travel down to
body designed to perform a certain special the uterus and attach itself to the lining and
function, such as the heart, which has the job spend nine months growing into a baby.
of pumping blood. A female's reproductive Most of the time, the egg won't be fertilized,
organs make it possible for her to have a baby. so it won't attach itself to the lining of the
They include the vagina, the uterus, two Fall~ uterus. Instead, it will disintegrate and the lining
pian tubes and two ovaries. of the uterus will break down and flow out of
The vagina is a muscular tube about four to the uterus, through the vagina and out of the
five inches long. It connects the uterus with the body. This process is called menstruation or the
outside of the body. The part of the uterus that menstrual period That's what girls mean when
meets the vagina is called the cervix. The uterus they say, "I've got my periocC' This menstrual
is about the size and shape of an upside-down flow is a mixture of the blood and tissue that
pear. It's a hollow organ with a specialliniug of passes slowly out of a girl's body each month.
tissue called the endometrium. At each side of
the uterus, within the area between the hips Jimmy, this guy who had just started at our school,
called the abdomen, are two finger-like passage raised his hand and almost whispered, "But doesn't
ways called Fallopian tubes. Near the ends of that hurt? Isn't it bad to lose blood?" Some of the
these tubes are two small organs, each about girls were giggling, and some of the guys, too. But
the size of a walnut, called ovaries. The ovaries 1 Mrs. Muller was pretty cool about it. She told us that
contain about 250,000 eggs, or ova, but they it is all a part of growing up for girls, and that it isn't
don't look anything like eggs you're used to seeing. unhealthy and it doesn't hurt.
15 16
There isn't a lot of blood over the three to She told us that good nutrition is very important
eight days of the period. The flow is absorbed for us right now. When we eat right, we'll feel a lot
by a sanitary pad, which is worn outside her better and have more energy in the long run. She
body and secured to the girl's underpants with said it's important especially for girls not to try to
an adhesiw strip. Some girls use tampons to ab lose weight by trying crazy diets or skipping meals.
sorb their menstrual flow. Tampons are rolled· We should all just cut out junk food and get more
up cylinders of absorbent materials that are in· exercise.
serted into the vagina which absorb the flow At least I felt good about that. I really like to get
before it leaves the body. outside and either play baseball or ride my bike.
The important thing to remember is that this This winter, my cousin Michele and her boyfriend
is a very normal and healthy part of a girl's life. promised to teach me how to ski. 0 can hardly wait!)
It doesn't mean that she can't be active or do About the food-well, I don't eat too much junk
anything she nonnally does. food or drink a lot of soda. As long as I don't have to
eat brussels sprouts (or at least not too many of
Before Coach Thomas or Mrs. Muller could even
them) then this is fine [or me.
ask if there were any other questions, Kate had her
After class, Brad and Sam asked me if I wanted to
hand raised.
go to the park and get a little batting practice in. I
'111011 "Mrs. Muller:' asked Kate, "there's something I'd like
to know more about. It's about diet. I don't mean los said sure.
On the way to the park, Sam said he bet the en
ing weight, so much, but eating right so we can feel
better:' tire Yankees baseball team ate lima beans and liver
for dinner. Brad said he thought that was pretty
Coach Thomas spoke up and said, 'Td like to an
disgusting. I thought they had oatmeal and lots of
swer that, because as a coach, I see the stuff some of
fruit for breakfast, and chicken for dinner with a side
you kids eat for 'quick energy: Things loaded with
of extra brussels sprouts. Brad said that didn't sound
sugar may get you off the growld in a hurry, but they
too bad, except the part about extra brussels sprouts.
drop you off real quick, too. I don't want to sound like
your mom or dad telling you to eat a1Jyour vegetables
because of all the starving people in the world. I just
III nderstanding New FeeUngs As You Grow Up.
Sam was over at my house and we were studying
want to teU you that the best thing is a balanced diet:'
for our English test. It was maybe the one subject I
Then Mrs. Muller said, "You've probably heard of
the 'four basic food groups: .. She wrote on the board was better at than Sam.
what they are: To change the subject from Tom Sawyer; he asked
me if I had thought about any questions for health
1) Fresh fruits and vegetables. class.
2) Grains-including breads and cereals. I said that J had, sort of. What J had really been
3) Meats-especially lean meats and fish thinking about, though, is that I wanted to talk to my
or poultry. dad about some of these things. Not so much about
4) Dairy products-preferably low·fat the physical stuff. More about other things-like life.
types of milk and yogurt.
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18
So I asked Sam how he talked to his dad about are changing a lot right now. I know mine were
things. when I was your age. That's part of your 'romantic'
"You mean like girls?;' Sam said. self that's growing up:'
"Well, yeah-and other things like that:' I said. It was as though he was reading my mind. Not
Sam told me that when he wanted to talk to his that long ago girls were just there. Now it seems like
dad, or even his mom, about I want to spend more time with them, even though it
something that he wasn't makes me pretty nervous being around certain ones.
totally comfortable with, he'd Se:mol Then Dad said, "I guess the way I'd put it is to say
start talking about something i?el{XIII.IIbllily
that there are three things about sex. First, sex is
else and ease into it. what you are-either a male or a female. Then there's
He said, "Maybe you can somet hing called sexual feelings. U you've wondered
start with the tryouts for the about a girl you know, like maybe what it would be
baseball team, or try to get like to hold her hand, or even kiss her-that's a sex
him to talk about something:' ual feeling. It's a perfectly normal, healthy thing to
After dinner, I said I'd help have sexual feelings, and you should never feel
Dad do the dishes. I started ashamed of them. There are many ways to express
teIJing him about looking at sexual feelings, and as you grow up you'll have to
the Sea of Tranquility on the make lots of decisions about showing others how
moon through my telescope you feel about them:'
the other night. I told him I I thought I was going to die of embarrassment, but
was thinking that I'd like to Dad kept right on talking.
SomelmJeS il:l apply for the space program after I get out of col "Often when people talk about 'having sex; they
~p()rlUfII 10 m<' to
I7y my:;!"!, /0 Ihmh lege. He thought that was great really mean sexual intercourse;' said Dad. "It's the
Jlx)lJllliings eJlld Then I began to get that weird feeling in my physical union between a man and a woman that
.\1 gel sOnJ<- peace
anci qUlel. stomach again. I just came out and said, ''I've been occurs when the man puts his penis into a woman's
thinking about other things, like growing up:' vagina.
He looked a bit surprised. Then he asked me if "There are lots of reasons why kids your age
there was something in particular that I wanted to should not have sexual intercourse:'
talk about. I said yes. Girls. He talked some more about how wonderful it is
"I guess I should have talked to you about that by to discover all kinds of things about yourself and the
now;' Dad said. world before you make a decision about your own
I could tell he was as nervous as [ was. We. He said that it's easier when you're older and
Then he said, "I know you've started your health know what's right or wrong for you, you won't feel
class. Have you discussed anything about it there?" so pressured to go along with the crowd or do some
uA little bit. I mean, about their physical changes thing just to feel like you fit in.
and stuff;' I said. "That's one way you'll know that you're mature
My eyes were glued to the floor. by making decisions based on good information and
"WeB:' Dad said. "I guess your feelings about girls your own values:'
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Then he said, "There are all different kinds of ways He also said that family values and, for some peo
to let a girl know you think she's special and that ple, religion, are important factors that affect how they
you care about her. Just plain talking- and listening live their lives, and that I need to understand all that.
to what she has to say- is one of the best ways. It It seems like we talked for hours. At the end, Dad
lets her know you're interested in who she is:' told me how proud he was of me. Then he hugged
Dad looked at me again and smiled, He said, "One me. Normally I would have gotten really upset. But
more thing about girls. I can't tell you all about the nobody was looking, so I guess it was okay. I hugged
different physical changes they're going through at him back.
your age, but I can tell you that they're going through
a lot, too. It's very important to understand that this
is as confusing a time for them as it is for you- and
making Responsible Decisions.
I had to get a new pair of skates for the party
as exciting. You need to be as sensitive about their tonight since I had outgrown last year's. I took it out
feelings as you would like them to be about yours:' of the money I earned doing yard work. I guess I am
He talked more about girls feeling proud and em starting to grow up, in more ways than one.
barrassed about all different things. And we talked Gr()()mill!l I even spent a little more time making sure that I
about why it wasn't a good idea for kids to have sex; was going to feel extra confident. I was already doing
not just because the girl could get pregnant, but also a lot of the grooming stuff that we discussed in health
because sometimes people can get diseases from their class-like showering every day and washing my
sexual partner. He said they're called sexually trans hair and keeping my face extra clean. Mom got me
mitted diseases, and that's how some people get AIDS. some astringent and some antibacterial soap, which
I didn't want to say I was uncomfortable even is a special soap that helps control acne and pimples,
thinking about this, so I guess I was glad when he because my face has gotten oilier. Since this was a
said, "I know it's too early for you to want to have special occasion, I also trimmed my nails a nd used
sex with a girl, but it's important to talk about all some of my Dad's skin lotion, and some deodorant,
this-especially as your feelings and needs change, too. 0 sweat up a storm when I get nervous.) I really
There's a lot more you need to know:' did feel good about how I looked and felt, so I figure
Dad said in case I was too embarrassed or if he I'll start making that part of my routine.
wasn't around and I had questions about sex, or I guess I kind of wanted to make sure that Kate
AIDS, or a nything else, I should go to the library would notice that I wasn't such a kid anymore, either.
w here there is a lot of information on these things On the way over to the skating rink, Sam said he
or I should ask our family doctor, school nurse, wanted my opinion on something,
teacher or an adult I feel comfortable with, He said, "It's about that new girl. You know . ..
We talked about how we felt about all different Andrea:'
kinds of things. He told me how sometimes even guys I said, ·Yeah. She seems pretty nice. What about her?"
want to cry, and that it's okay. I wasn't sure about I could tell Sam was feeling a bit uncomfortable. I
that, but then Dad told me he had cried more than had guessed he sort of liked her. So I just said, "You
once. Sometimes over really sad things-like when know, I hear she's pretty smart. And she plays the
his mom had died. Sometimes over happy things guitar, too:'
like when I was born.
21 22
Andrea was going to be at the party, and I figured risk that so you can think you're hot stuff by smoking.
if Sam knew something about her, he wouldn't feel You know what that does to your lungs and your
so nervous about starting a conversation. I mean, beart, and besides that, it stinks. Just because you
what are friends for? don't feel it now doesn't mean that it's not doing any
I could hardly wait to tryout my new skates when damage. Sometimes I can't believe you:'
we got to the rink. Kate came Then I said, "Brad, most of
up and said how great they us really look up to you. Not
looked. I didn't even feel too just because you're so good at
embarrassed. baseball and most every other
Sam and I went out on the sport around, but because we
ice and pretended we were know you care about the way
going for the Stanley Cup. He we feel. You don't put us
told me he had gotten up the down when we don't make
nerve to talk to Andrea and the catch or anything. I guess
that she was really nice and what I'm trying to say is ...we
had offered to teach him how care about you, too. Don't
to play the guitar. screw up your health just
A bit later Brad showed up. because you think it makes
He came out on the ice and you look cool to smoke. It just
was trying to show off. Some- makes you look like a jerk:'
times he can be that way, al I think about my own health
Gmil/ parf)1 ways trying to prove that he's cool. When he fell, he S()me/ime.~ lJrad more than I used to. I've even been trying to eat
thinks iI's roo/to better.
kept acting like his skates were no good, and that it sl/(lu' orr. /Jl/lllI'
wasn't his fault. It's real important to Brad to be best (}op,m'/IIUl'e I, Brad had gone off by himself for a while. Just
pml~' II/mwlf 10 U.I
at everything. He doesn't like to lose and when he before the party broke up, he came over to Sam and
does he isn't a very good sport about it. I understand me and said thanks, and asked us if we wanted to go
why he does that sometimes, even though I like him out after the final baseball tryouts to celebrate, no
better when he's just himself. matter what happened.
I heard him yell to me from the other side of the I think what he meant was that he wanted to cele
rink, "Hey Greg. Come over here, I want to ask you brate our friendship and how we were all growing up.
something:' That sounded good to me.
Sam came over too. Then Brad asked us if we
wanted to go outside and smoke a cigarette with
him. That really did it. I didn't exactly blow my cool
lleel Comfortable With Who You Are.
This was the big day! I was ali the way up to the
with him, but I did tell him that I thought he was final cut for the baseball team, and I was even more
being a jerk. nervous now than I was the first day of health class.
Then Sam said, "You of all people. Man, you're It was a different kind of nervous, though, than I had
about the best athlete in the class, and you want to felt that day. I felt really proud of myself for being
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MALE BODY PAKrS
D NDEX Anus (it ' nas): The opening in the body through
Introduction . .. . . . .... .. . ....... . .. Pages 1-2 which bowel movements come out.
Epididymis (ep 'a-did-<l-mas): A storage chamber in
the male's body that's attached to each testicle. This
Male Puberty . . ...... . ............. Pages 4-5 is where sperm cells are nourished and mature.
Genitals Oen' a-t ' lz): The external sex organs.
Male Development (External) .... .... .. Pages 6-8 Hormones (hor' mbnz): Substances created by the
body that make specific things happen in the body.
Hypothalamus (hi I p6-thal-a-mas): The area of the
Male Development (Internal) ...... .... Pages 7-10 brain responsible for sending the message, by way
of the pituitary gland, to a boy's testicles to start the
Female Development ..... .......... Pages 13-17 production of testosterone, which is necessary for
the onset of puberty.
Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Penis (pe ' nas): The main male sexual organ .
Pituitary Gland (pe-tyoo ' a -ter-{}): A small gland
at the base of the brain which, under the direction
Sexual Responsibility . . .. . ... ....... Pages 20-22 of the hypothalamus, is responsible for manufactur
ing the chemicals that influence growth, metabolism
Grooming ... ... ... .. .. ...... ....... Page 22 and maturation.
Prostate Gland (priis I tal): A maJe gland that's
located at the base of a boy's bladder. It contributes
Glossary of Terms .. . . .. . ... . ...... Pages 28r30 a thin, milky fluid that makes up the largest part
of the semen.
Rectum (rek tam): The part of the lower intestines
f
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MALE BODY FUNCTIONS Ovum (6' mm): The single egg cell which, when
fertilized by male sperm, grows into a baby. It is
Ejaculation (i-jak' "a.Ja' sban): The process by smaller than a grain of salt.
which semen is ejected from the penis. Pituitary Gland (p~tyoo' a-ter-e): A small gland
Nocturnal Emission (oak-tarn ' l/e-misb' ~n): The at the base of the brain which is responsible for
involuntary ejaculation of semen that generally manufacturing ti1e chemicals that influence growth,
happens while a boy is sleeping. It's sometimes metabolism and maturation.
called a "wet dream;' and is natu re's way of making Progesterone (priJ.jes' ta-rim): A female hormone.
room for new sperm cells in the seminal vesicles. Rectum (rek' tam): The part of the lower intestine
Puberty (pyii' b3rt.e): The stage at which a boy which connects to the anus.
becomes physiologically ready for sexual repro Uterus (yoot' a-ras): A muscular organ about the
either side of the uterus. becomes physiologically ready for sexual repro
duction.
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