Chapter 4: Prenatal development Flashcards
prenatal development
development of human individuals before they are born
foetus
organism 12 weeks after conception until birth
embryo
developing organism during the period when organs are forming; in humans from first cell division until about 10 weeks
neonate
infant less than a month old
synaptogenesis
building of connections between nervecells
apoptosis
programmed cell death
ectoderm
outermost of the 3 primary germ layers of an embryo; the central nervous system and skin develop from ectoderm
neural plate
thickening of the ectoderm cells that will give rise to the brain
neural tube
hollow structure in the embryo that gives rise to the brain and spinal chord
cranial-caudal
direction beginning with the head end and moving toward the opposite end or feet in humans
neurogenesis
birth of neurons
cerebral cortex
area of the brain that is associated with complex tasks such as memory, language, thoughts and the control and integration of movement and the senses
term
end of pregnancy
rooting reflex
reflex that causes newborn babies to respond to one of their cheeks being touched by turning their head in that direction
chemosensory system
encompasses both gustatory and olfactory senses
colostrum
breast fluid that precedes true milk; it is rich in minerals and antibodies, and it helps populate the newborn’s gut with “good” bacteria
preterm
born prematurely; before 38 weeks of pregnancy
trimester
period of 3 months
transnatal learning
learning that occurs during the prenatal period which is remembered during the postnatal period
perinatal
period just before and after birth
ultradian rhythm
cycles that repeat in less than 24-hour period
DNA methylation
process with an important role in gene regulation, consisting of the addition of methyl groups to DNA
autosomal genetic disorders
disorders resulting from a mutation in a gene in one of the non-sex chromosomes; e. g. cystic fibrosis (recessive), achondroplasia (dwarfism, dominant)
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
class of drugs typically used to treat depression/anxiety
developmental programming
hypothesis that prenatal conditions have detrimental effects on health into adulthood
