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Pediatric Education and Research 13(2 (Special Supplement -II)):p 397-399, July-Dec 2025. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/per.2321.1644.13225.94
Review Article
The Contribution of James Tanner to the Field of Pediatrics
Kirti Somnath Phalke, Kasumbiwal Ajay H., Lakhe Siddheshwar A., More Sudarshan
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Pediatric Education and Research 13(2 (Special Supplement -II)):p 397-399, July-Dec 2025. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/per.2321.1644.13225.94
How Cite This Article:
Kasumbiwal Ajay H., Lakhe Siddheshwar A., More Sudarshan, et al. The Contribution of James Tanner to the Field of Pediatrics. Pediatr. Edu. Res. 2025; 13(2): 397-399.Timeline
Received : December 10, 2025
Accepted : December 24, 2025
Published : December 30, 2025
Abstract
James Mourilyan Tanner was a pivotal figure in twentieth-century pediatrics whose work fundamentally reshaped the understanding of child growth and development. This review article outlines his key contributions, most notably the creation of the Tanner Scale or Sexual Maturity Rating, his landmark longitudinal growth studies at the Harpenden Children’s Home, and his pioneering work in standardizing bone age assessment.1-3 Through a historical analysis of his research, this article highlights how Tanner’s rigorous, data-driven methods provided standardized tools to differentiate normal from pathological growth. His work revolutionized clinical pediatrics, endocrinology, and auxology, establishing the modern framework for growth monitoring worldwide.4-6 Tanner’s legacy remains central to pediatric practice, and his tools continue to serve as global standards for assessing child development.
References
- 1. Tanner J.M., Whitehouse R.H. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child. 1976; 51(3): 170–179.
- 2. Tanner J.M. Growth at Adolescence. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1962.
- 3. Tanner J.M. A History of the Study of Human Growth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1981.
- 4. Buckler J.M.H. James Mourilyan Tanner (1920– 2010): A biographical note. Ann Hum Biol. 2005; 32(5): 683–686.
- 5. Tanner J.M., Whitehouse R.H., Cameron N., Marshall W.A., Healy M.J.R., Goldstein H. Assessment of Skeletal Maturity and Prediction of Adult Height (TW2 Method). London: Academic Press; 1975.
- 6. Cameron N. Human Growth and Development. London: Academic Press; 2002.
- 7. Marshall W.A., Tanner J.M. Variations in the pattern of pubertal changes in boys. Arch Dis Child. 1970; 45(239): 13–23.
- 8. Marshall W.A., Tanner J.M. Variations in the pattern of pubertal changes in girls. Arch Dis Child. 1969; 44(235): 291–303.
- 9. Greulich W.W., Pyle S.I. Radiographic Atlas of Skeletal Development of the Hand and Wrist. 2nd ed. Stanford (CA): Stanford University Press; 1959.
- 10. Roche A.F., Sun S.S. Human Growth: Assessment and Interpretation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2003.
Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest in this work.
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Cite this article
Kasumbiwal Ajay H., Lakhe Siddheshwar A., More Sudarshan, et al. The Contribution of James Tanner to the Field of Pediatrics. Pediatr. Edu. Res. 2025; 13(2): 397-399.
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| December 10, 2025 | December 24, 2025 | December 30, 2025 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/per.2321.1644.13225.94
Keywords
James TannerPediatricsTanner ScalePubertyGrowth and DevelopmentAuxologyBone AgeHarpenden StudySearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | December 10, 2025 |
| Accepted | December 24, 2025 |
| Published | December 30, 2025 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
