Which development is characteristic of female physical growth in adolescence?

The development of breasts is a hallmark of female physical growth during adolescence due to hormonal changes, primarily the increase in estrogen levels. This stage typically signifies puberty, which brings about various secondary sexual characteristics in females. Breast development is a significant and visible change as the body prepares for potential future reproductive functions.

In contrast, other options do not accurately reflect typical female developmental patterns during adolescence. For example, increased muscle mass is generally more associated with male adolescent development due to higher testosterone levels. Decreased height is not a characteristic of this stage; rather, girls experience a growth spurt that usually occurs approximately two years earlier than boys, followed by a gradual height increase before it levels off. As for larger shoe size, while girls may experience some change in shoe size during growth spurts, it is not regarded as a defining characteristic of female physical development in adolescence compared to breast development.