chapter 2: prenatal development and the newborn period

Question 1

epigenesis

Answer 1

the emergence of new structures and functions in the course of development

Question 2

gametes (germ cells)

Answer 2

reproductive cells – egg and sperm – that contain only half the genetic material of all the other cells in the body

Question 3

meiosis

Answer 3

cell division that produces gametes

Question 4

conception

Answer 4

the union of an egg from the mother and a sperm from the father

Question 5

zygote

Answer 5

a fertilized egg cell

Question 6

embryo

Answer 6

the developing organism from the 3rd to 8th week of prenatal development

Question 7

fetus

Answer 7

the developing organism from the 9th week to birth

Question 8

mitosis

Answer 8

cell division that results in two identical cells

Question 9

embryonic stem cells

Answer 9

embryonic cells, which can develop into any type of body cell

Question 10

apoptosis

Answer 10

genetically programmed cell death

Question 11

identical (monozygotic) twins

Answer 11

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 genesf

Question 12

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Answer 12

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 have only half their genes in common

Question 13

neural tube

Answer 13

a groove formed in the top layer of differentiated cells in the embryo that eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord

Question 14

amniotic sac

Answer 14

a transparent, fluid-filled membrane that surrounds and protects the fetus

Question 15

placenta

Answer 15

a support organ for the fetus; it keeps the circulatory systems of the fetus and mother separate, but a semipermeable membrane permits the exchange of some materials between them (oxygen and nutrients from mother to fetus, and carbon dioxide and waste products from fetus to mother)

Question 16

umbilical cord

Answer 16

a tube containing the blood vessels connecting the fetus and placenta

Question 17

cephalocaudal development

Answer 17

the pattern of growth in which areas near the head develop earlier than areas farther from the head

Question 18

phylogenetic continuity

Answer 18

the idea that because of our common evolutionary history, humans share many characteristics, behaviors, and developmental processes with non-human animals, especially mammals

Question 19

habituation

Answer 19

a simple form of learning that involves a decrease in response to repeated or continued stimulation

Question 20

dishabituation

Answer 20

the introduction of a new stimulus rekindles interest following habituation to a repeated stimulus

Question 21

teratogen

Answer 21

an external agent that can cause damage or death during prenatal development

Question 22

sensitive period

Answer 22

the period of time during which a developing organism is most sensitive to the effects of external factors

Question 23

dose-response relation

Answer 23

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)

Question 24

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Answer 24

the sudden, unexpected death of an infant less than 1 year of age that has no identifiable cause

Question 25

fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

Answer 25

the harmful effects of maternal alcohol consumption on a developing fetus. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) involves a range of effects, including facial deformities, intellectual disabilities, attention problems, hyperactivity, and other defects. Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) is a term used for individuals who show some, but not all, of the standard effects of FAS

Question 26

state

Answer 26

level of arousal and engagement in the environment, ranging from deep sleep to intense activity

Question 27

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

Answer 27

an active sleep state characterized by quick, jerky eye movements under closed lids and associated with dreaming in adults

Question 28

non-REM sleep

Answer 28

a quiet or deep sleep state characterized by the absence of motor activity or eye movements and more regular, slow brain waves, breathing, and heart rate

Question 29

swaddling

Answer 29

a soothing technique, used in many cultures, that involves wrapping a baby tightly in cloths or a blanket

Question 30

colic

Answer 30

excessive, inconsolable crying by a young infant for no apparent reason

Question 31

Apgar score

Answer 31

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

Question 32

infant mortality

Answer 32

death during the first year after birth

Question 33

low birth weight (LBW)

Answer 33

a birth weight of less than 5 1/2 pounds (2500 grams)

Question 34

premature

Answer 34

any child born at 35 weeks after conception or earlier (as opposed to the normal term of 38 weeks)

Question 35

small for gestational age

Answer 35

babies who weigh substantially less than is normal for whatever their gestational age

Question 36

developmental resilience

Answer 36

successful development in spite of multiple and seemingly overwhelming developmental hazards