Chapter 4: Prenatal development

Question 1

prenatal development

Answer 1

development of human individuals before they are born

Question 2

foetus

Answer 2

organism 12 weeks after conception until birth

Question 3

embryo

Answer 3

developing organism during the period when organs are forming; in humans from first cell division until about 10 weeks

Question 4

neonate

Answer 4

infant less than a month old

Question 5

synaptogenesis

Answer 5

building of connections between nervecells

Question 6

apoptosis

Answer 6

programmed cell death

Question 7

ectoderm

Answer 7

outermost of the 3 primary germ layers of an embryo; the central nervous system and skin develop from ectoderm

Question 8

neural plate

Answer 8

thickening of the ectoderm cells that will give rise to the brain

Question 9

neural tube

Answer 9

hollow structure in the embryo that gives rise to the brain and spinal chord

Question 10

cranial-caudal

Answer 10

direction beginning with the head end and moving toward the opposite end or feet in humans

Question 11

neurogenesis

Answer 11

birth of neurons

Question 12

cerebral cortex

Answer 12

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

Question 13

term

Answer 13

end of pregnancy

Question 14

rooting reflex

Answer 14

reflex that causes newborn babies to respond to one of their cheeks being touched by turning their head in that direction

Question 15

chemosensory system

Answer 15

encompasses both gustatory and olfactory senses

Question 16

colostrum

Answer 16

breast fluid that precedes true milk; it is rich in minerals and antibodies, and it helps populate the newborn’s gut with “good” bacteria

Question 17

preterm

Answer 17

born prematurely; before 38 weeks of pregnancy

Question 18

trimester

Answer 18

period of 3 months

Question 19

transnatal learning

Answer 19

learning that occurs during the prenatal period which is remembered during the postnatal period

Question 20

perinatal

Answer 20

period just before and after birth

Question 21

ultradian rhythm

Answer 21

cycles that repeat in less than 24-hour period

Question 22

DNA methylation

Answer 22

process with an important role in gene regulation, consisting of the addition of methyl groups to DNA

Question 23

autosomal genetic disorders

Answer 23

disorders resulting from a mutation in a gene in one of the non-sex chromosomes; e. g. cystic fibrosis (recessive), achondroplasia (dwarfism, dominant)

Question 24

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

Answer 24

class of drugs typically used to treat depression/anxiety

Question 25

developmental programming

Answer 25

hypothesis that prenatal conditions have detrimental effects on health into adulthood