Lifespan Development Flashcards
What is lifespan development?
The age-related changes that occur from birth throughout a persons’ life, into and during old age
What are the six stages of lifespan development?
Infancy -> childhood -> adolescence -> early adulthood -> middle age -> older age
What is the age range for infancy?
Birth to 2 years
What is the age range for childhood?
2 to 10 years
What is the age range for adolescence?
10 to 20 years
What is the age range for early adulthood?
20 to 40 years
What is the age range for middle age?
40 to 65 years
What age range is older age?
65+
What happens during the first trimester?
Embryological and foetal development
The beginnings of all the major organ systems appear being laid down as ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm
What is the definition of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm?
They are layers of cell
Ectoderm = outer layer
Mesoderm = middle layer
Endoderm = inner layer
What happens in the secondary trimester?
Development of organs and organ systems
Very quickly the baby develops
When does a foetus look distinctively like a human by?
6 months
What happens in the third trimester?
Baby gets bigger and fatter
Rapid foetal growth and deposition of adipose tissue. Major organ systems are fully functioning in the early stages of this trimester
When does everything develop up until?
36-38 weeks
When does the rib cage firm up?
It is soft and cartilaginous until about 3 years
What are the muscles of the respiratory system like in infancy?
Intercostal muscles are poorly developed
During infancy there are less type I muscle twitch fibres
How is the diaphragm different during infancy?
Angle of insertion of diaphragm is horizontal (not very domed shape)
Why are the airways of infants predisposed to collapse?
There is less cartilaginous support of their airways
Why do infants have a higher oxygen requirement?
They have a higher resting metabolic rate
How many alveoli do we have at birth compared to adulthood?
150 million at birth and 400 million as adults
What is collateral ventilation and is this found at birth?
It is a back up system of alveolar ventilation that can bypass the normal route of airflow when airways are restricted or obstructed
This does not exist at birth
How many bones are we born with and how many bones do we have as an adult?
We are born with 300 bones, some of which then fuse including the skull. Then as adults we have 206 bones
What happens to bones over time?
They ossify from the soft, cartilaginous structures they are at birth
What are muscle fibres like in infancy?
Small and watery
Why do babies have floppy heads?
The brain is a quarter of the total baby’s weight
What parts of the brain are most developed in infancy?
The lower centres of the brain
At birth how much are you of your adult height?
1/3
What are some characteristics that genetic factors influence on growth and development?
Sex
Physical status
Race
What are some environmental factors that influence growth and development
Family, religion, climate, culture, school, community and nutrition
What are some factors that affect physical growth?
Traits and characteristics inherited at the time of conception
Multiple births
Physical and mental health of mother during pregnancy
Normal or abnormal delivery
Conditions and care at time of delivery
Nutrition received by the child after birth
At what age do most infants double their birth weight by?
4-6 months
What age do babies triple their birth weight?
1 year
In the first 6 months how much weight is gained each months?
2 pounds
What plates close in adolescence?
Epiphyseal plates
What causes a significant difference in muscle mass between males and females?
Testosterone has a greater effect than oestrogen
What does the presence of increased levels of testosterone do to blood volume?
Increases blood volume
When is adolescence over?
When growth stops
What are critical periods during prenatal development?
Where systems are vulnerable
What is growth and development driven by?
Hormones
What is primary ageing?
The inevitable process of the body’s natural deterioration that takes place during life
What is secondary ageing?
Results from disease and poor health practices and are often preventable to some degree
