Chapter 4 - Growth

Question 1

What is cephalocaudal?

Answer 1

The pattern of physical development in which development proceeds from the head downward

Question 2

What is proximodistal?

Answer 2

The pattern of physical development in which development proceeds from the centre (trunk) outward (to the limbs)

Question 3

What is a neuron?

Answer 3

A cell that specializes in receiving and transmitting information

Question 4

Do newborns have neurons?

Answer 4

Yes, but they aren’t organized yet (some organization happens in prenatal development but others take time)

Question 5

What is a dendrite?

Answer 5

Receiving end of the neuron allowing a neuron to receive input from many thousands of other neurons

Question 6

What is an axon?

Answer 6

Tube-like structure at the other end of the cell that sends information to other neurons

Question 7

What is myelin?

Answer 7

Fatty sheath wrapped around the axon to allow it to transmit infomation more rapidly

Question 8

When does myelination usually occur?

Answer 8

Within the first 2 years of life and then slowly continues throughout life

Question 9

What is synaptogenesis?

Answer 9

The process of synapse formation

Question 10

What is a synapse?

Answer 10

Gap between one neuron and the next

Question 11

What is lateralization?

Answer 11

The process through which brain functions are divided between the two hemispheres of the cortex

Question 12

What is pruning?

Answer 12

The process of eliminating unnecessary synaptic connections (experience plays a large role)

Question 13

As children grow, how do their body parts develop at different rates?

Answer 13

Head grows faster than the legs making them look top heavy

Question 14

When is the first major development of growth?

Answer 14

Newborn to age 2

Question 15

What happens during the first major development of growth?

Answer 15

Torso and limbs catch up and proximodistal development pattern develops

Question 16

By what age has a child reached approximately half of their adult height?

Answer 16

2 years for boys and 18 months for girls

Question 17

Between what ages is there another big growth spurt?

Answer 17

2 and 12

Question 18

What is a fontanel?

Answer 18

The “soft spot” on an infant’s head that result from the infant’s skull not being completely fused together

Question 19

Why is the fontanel adventageous?

Answer 19

1) Allows the head to be compressed during birth
2) Allows the brain to grow

Question 20

What happens if a child is born without a fontanel?

Answer 20

If their fontanel hardened in the whom, they usually have cognitive problems because the brain can’t grow

Question 21

Are children’s bones completely formed in infancy?

Answer 21

No. E.g., At 2 and a half years, a child does not have many wrist bones until ossification occurs