Authors review principal manifestations of physical growth in adolescence: adolescent growth spur, body composition and chemical maturation. A cross-sectional study performed in Madrid area (92 females and 113 males normal adolescents) showed that serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations and urinary total hydroxyproline excretion had a close relation with height velocity and sex maturity ratings in adolescents. Factorial analysis showed variable correlation between 43 anthropometric and biochemical parameters.