Chapter 5 Infant Physical Development Flashcards
Differentiation
Tendency of behavior to become more specific and distinct
Failure to Thrive
A disorder of impaired growth in infancy and early childhood characterized by failure to gain weight within normal limits.
Marasmus
A wasted, potentially lethal body condition caused by inadequate nutrition and characterized by painful thinness
Canalization
Catch up growth once FTT is resolved
Kwashiorkor
A severe form of malnutrition where infants do not get enough protein or other essential nutrients in their diet
Nerves
A whitish fiber or bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord
Neurons
A nerve cell; the building block of the nervous system
Dendrites
Are short fibers that extend from the cell body and receive incoming messages from thousands of adjoining transmitting neurons
Axon
A long, thin part of a neuron that transmits impulses to other neurons through small branching structures called axon terminals
neurotransmitter
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
Myelin sheath
A fatty substance that surrounds the axon. Acts as an insulator and allows neural impulses to travel quickly
Myelination
Refers to the process by which axons become coated with myelin.
Multiple sclerosis
A disease where the immune system eats away at the protective covering of the nerves
Medulla
The inner region of an organ or tissues especially when it is distinguishable from the outer region or cortex
Cerebellum
Brain structure involved in balance and motor control
Cerebrum
Brain structure composed of the left and right hemisphere and responsible for the complex cognitions that make us human, such as learning, memory, and language
Ulnar grasp
A method of grasping objects in which the fingers close somewhat clumsily against the palm
Pincer grasp
refers to using the forefinger and the thumb to pinch or grasp an object; this is an important fine motor skill as it is used for feeding
Locomotion
the movement from one place to another. Children gain the capacity to move their bodies through a sequence of activities which includes: rolling over, sitting up, creeping, crawling, crawling, walking, and running.
Sensation
the stimulation of sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin) and the transmission of sensory information to the brain.
Perception
The process by which sensations
are organized into a mental map of the world.
Perceptual constancy
The tendency to perceive an object as the same, even though the
sensations provided by the object may differ under various conditions
Size constancy
The tendency to perceive objects as being the same size even though the sizes of their images on the retina may differ as a result of distance
Size constancy
The tendency to perceive objects as being the same size even though the sizes of their images on the retina may differ as a result of distance
Shape constancy
The tendency to perceive objects as being the same shape even though the shapes of their images on the retina may differ when the objects are viewed from different positions
Habituation
The diminishing of a physiological or emotional response to a frequent repeated stimulus
Name the three sequences of physical growth and development during infancy
1) Cephalocaudal Development: Development proceeds from the head to the lower parts of the body. Cephalocaudal development gives the brain an opportunity to participate more fully in subsequent developments. EXAMPLE: Infants gain control of their hands and upper body before they gain control of their lower body.
2) Proximodistal Development: Development proceeds from the trunk or central axis of the body outward. EXAMPLE: Infants gain control over their shoulders before their arms, hands, and fingers.
3) Differentiation: The process by which behaviors and physical structures become more specialized. EXAMPLE: If an infant burns their finger, they may pull their hand away and cry. If an adult burns their finger they will most likely pull their finger away, but not cry.
