Developmental chapter 5 ( Body, Brain, and Health) Flashcards
celiac disease
condition where the immune system attacks its own tissues when eating gluten
↳malnutrition (lack or excesses of proper nutrition) and stunts growth (failure to reach one’s full potential for growth.
catch-up growth
accelerated growth of an organism following a period of slowed development, particularly as a result of nutrient deprivation
endocrine glands
organ that produce hormones into the bloodstream (going to the whole body)
The endocrine system
Pituitary
thyroid
testes
ovaries
adrenal glands
- Pituitary
↳ hormones: growth hormone, activating hormones
→regulates growth from birth to adolescence
→ triggers adolescent growth spurt (sudden speed)
→ signals other glands to produce their hormones
______________________________________________________
- thyroid
↳ hormones: thyroxine
→ affects growth and development of the brain
→ helps regulate the growth of the body during
childhood
______________________________________________________
- testes
↳ hormones: testosterone
→ develops the male reproductive system during the
prenatal period
→ directs male sexual development during adolescence
______________________________________________________
- ovaries
↳ hormones: estrogen and progesterone
→ regulate the menstrual cycle
→ directs female development during adolescence
→ progesterone allows conception and supports
pregnancy
______________________________________________________
- adrenal glands
↳ hormones: adrenal androgens
→ support the development of muscles and bones
→ contributes to sexual motivatio
synapse
connection between two nerve cells, consisting of a space through which impulses flow via neurotransmitter diffusion
the two parts of the the nervous system (only the name)
central and peripheral nervous system
neuron
the fundamental type of cell in the nervous system that is responsible for transmitting information throughout the body
“neurons that are not fully specialized can take the functions of damaged neurons”
principles of growth: cephalocaudal principle
development and growth occur from head to toe
myelination
the creation and use of a fatty sheath around a neuron’s axon that insulates them, speeding the transmission of neural impulses
principles of growth: proximodistal principle
development and growth occur from the middle to the outside
synaptogenesis
the formation of synapses between neurons in the nervous system, especially in the developing brain
principles of growth: orthogenetic principle
development of more difficult tasks begins with the mastery of
simple tasks first
synaptic pruning
the process by which extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated in order to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions
Behavioral states (NOT stages) (sleep and babies)
- by 3 months, infants begin to establish a predictable sleep-wake pattern which becomes airly stable by 6 months of age
- newborns spend half of their sleeping hours in REM sleep, but by 6 months of age they spend only 25-30%
↳REM sleep allows them to to integrate and learn all the information acquired throughout the day
reflex (and some extra facts about them)
- automatic response to a stimulus
- primitive reflexes usually disappear during the early months of infancy, as they are not useful
-the presence and absence of reflexes can serve as a general indicator of the state of the neurological health
lateralization
the specialization of the 2 hemispheres of the brain
if one hemisphere is damaged, because of neuroplasticity, the other
can “take over” the lost functions
the left hemisphere is often called the thinking side of the brain and the right one, the creative side
congenital malformations
structural or functional anomalies that occur during intrauterine life (prenatal period)
“birth defects”
Child growth
growth is characterized by a slow and steady process throughout childhood
puberty
process of biological change that leads an individual to sexual maturity
Health and Wellness of children
- main influences to children’s health are: accidents, nutrition, and physical activity
- children should do physical activity for at least 60 minutes daily
- some kids are predisposed by temperament to live a sedentary lifestyle (too much sitting and too little physical activity)
- regular physical exercise seems to support effective executive functions (mental skills we use to plan, focus and so on…)
Physical Behavior of children
children master the ability to move capably in a changing environment
↳ they learn to integrate multiple body movements
Volume of gray matter
increases, peaks, and then decreases during adolescence
(the part of the brain and spinal cord that processes information, controls muscles, and enables thinking and memory)
The Adolescent Brain
- volume of white matter increases following a linear pattern.
(responsible for transmitting signals between different areas of the nervous system.) - part of the brain involved in regulating self-control is not yet fully developed in adolescence
- the reward system of the brain is hyper-responsive
- neurons in the frontal lobes are last to be myelinated (to get covered by the fatty sheath)
Growth Spurt for boys and girls
boys lag behind girls 1-2 years
semenarche
the first ejaculation of a boy
adolescent growth spurt
period of increased production of androgens, around the age of 6-8 years, that precedes puberty in both sexes
menarche
the first menstruation of a girl (avg. age: 12.5)
secular trend
refers to long-term changes in population characteristics observed over generations. Examples include increases in height and weight, earlier onset of puberty, rising IQ scores, and shifts in family structures.
psychological implications for boys and girls
GIRLS:
→ become more self-conscious and worry about their appearance
→ lack energy and do fewer activities
→ mood changes
BOYS:
→ increase in body image
→ tend to become preoccupied with their athletic skills
→ exhibit a decrease in anxiety
TEENS:
→ engage in less body contact, especially with fathers
→ avoid being seen naked
→ become more independent and less close to their parents
→ experience conflicts with parents, usually on minor issues
Changes in the brain as we grow older
- brain development is never truly complete
- neuron loss is greater in areas that control sensory and motor activities than in areas that control thought or basic functions
- middle age brings greater integration of the left and right hemispheres
early vs late development for boys and girLs
early maturing girls → more likely to experience negative feelings and bad entourages
early maturing boys → positive feelings but aggressive behavior and bad friend groups
late maturing girls → anxiety at first, but effects level once they start to mature
late maturing boys → great anxiety, bullying
scaffolding theory of aging and compensation (STAC)
explains how the adult brain compensates losses by increasing activity in other areas of the brain (ex: prefrontal cortex)
premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
physical symptoms women can have in the weeks before the menstrual cycle (their period)
premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD)
→ severe form of PMS that adds affective symptoms
female menopause
drop in female hormones leading to loss of the menstrual cycle and marks the end of the reproductive ability
male andropause
decreasing levels of testosterone lead to low libido, erectile issues, lack of energy, memory problems, and loss of pubic hair
osteoarthritis
degenerative joint disease that causes pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility
osteoporosis
bones become weak and brittle, increasing the risk of fractures
programmed theories of aging
aging occurs according to a species-specific genetic
program
Hayflick limit
→ theoretical limit to the number of times a cell can divide before it dies
↳ support for programmed theories of aging
