Chapter 2 Flashcards
Prenatal development and the newborn period
Epigenesis
The emergence of new structures and functions in the course of development
Gametes (germ cells)
Reproductive cells - egg and sperm - that contain only half the genetic material of all the other cells in the body
Meiosis
Cell division that produces gametes
Conception
The union of an egg and a sperm
Zygote
A fertilized egg cell
Embryo
The developing organism from the 3rd to 8th week of prenatal development
Fetus
The developing organism from the 9th week to birth
Mitosis
Cell division that results in two identical cells
Embryonic stem cells
Embryonic cells, which can develop into any type of body cell
Apoptosis
Genetically programmed cell death
Identical (monozygotic) twins
Twins that result from the splitting in half of the zygote, resulting in each of the two resulting zygotes having exactly the same set of genes
Fraternal (dizygotic) twins
Twins that result when two eggs happen to be released into the fallopian tube at the same time and are fertilized by two different sperm; fraternal twins only have half their genes in common
Ectopic pregnancy
Pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants and grows in an organ outside of the uterus (most often in a fallopian tube), preventing normal growth of the fetus and putting the expectant parent at risk of life-threatening injury
Neural tube
A groove formed in the top layer of differentiated cells in the embryo that eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord
Amniotic sac
A transparent, fluid-filled membrane that surrounds and protects the fetus
Placenta
A support organ for the fetus; it keeps the circulatory systems of the fetus and pregnant parent separate, but a semi-permeable membrane permits the exchange of some materials between them (oxygen and nutrients from pregnant parent to fetus, and carbon dioxide and waste products from fetus to pregnant parent)
Umbilical cord
A tube containing the blood vessels connecting the fetus and the placenta
Cephalocaudal development
The pattern of growth in which areas near the head develop earlier than areas farther from the head
Phylogenetic continuity
Humans share many characteristics, behaviors, and developmental processes with nonhuman animals, especially mammals, due to our common evolutionary history
Habituation
A simple form of learning that involves a decrease in response to repeated or continued stimulation
Dishabituation
The introduction of a new stimulus rekindles interest following habituation to a repeated stimulus
Teratogen
An external agent that causes damage or death during prenatal development
Sensitive period
The period during which a developing organism is most sensitive to the effects of external factors
Dose-response relation
A relation in which the effect of exposure to an element increases with the extent of exposure (prenatally, the more exposure a fetus has to a potential teratogen, the more severe its effect is likely to be)
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
The sudden, unexpected death of an infant younger than 1 year that has no identifiable cause
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
The harmful effects of alcohol consumption on a developing fetus, including characteristic facial features, intellectual developmental disorder, attentional challenges, and hyperactivity
State
Level of arousal and engagement in the environment, ranging from deep sleep to intense activity
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
An active sleep state characterized by quick, jerky eye movements under closed lids and associated with dreaming in adults
Non-REM sleep
A quiet or deep sleep state characterized by absence of motor activity or eye movements and more regular, slow brain waves, breathing, and heart rate
Swaddling
A soothing technique, used in many cultures, that involves wrapping a baby tightly in cloths or a blanket
Colic
Excessive, inconsolable crying by a young infant for no apparent reason
Apgar score
Method for evaluating the health of the newborn immediately following birth based on skin tone, pulse rate, facial response, arm and leg activity, and breathing
Infant mortality
Death during the first year after birth
Low birth weight (LBW)
A birth weight of less that 5,5 pounds (2500 grams)
Premature
Any child born at 35 weeks after conception or earlier (as opposed to the normal term of 38 weeks)
Small for gestational age
Babies who weigh substantially less than is normal for whatever their gestational age
Developmental resilience
Successful development in spite of multiple and seemingly overwhelming developmental hazards
