Physical and Cognitive development in Early childhood: 2-6 years old Flashcards
Body Growth
slower pattern of growth -2 to 3 inches -5 pounds torso lengthens and widens spine straightens more muscles no longer need to control body temp with fat
Brain development
Increases from 70% - 90% of its adult weight
Establishing links
Lateralization: shape of brain starts to even out
-right or left side dominance
Organization of endocrine system
Glands: ductless tissue
-secretes hormones
-only respond to hormones they are connected to: specialized
Hormones: specialized compounds
-regulate activity of their tissues/organs
What do hormones regulate?
1) Growth and maturation - Morphogenesis
2) Respond to stimuli - Integration (internal and external)
3) Internal environment - Maintenance
What are hormones made from?
Proteins: consume a.a. , which goes towards hormone production
Steroids: made from fats
Amines: non essential
Fatty acids: made from fat consumed
Negative feedback loop
Too little -> appropriate endocrine gland produces its hormone ->increased production/ release
Example - Pancreas:
- eat, blood sugar goes rapidly increases, not normal
- insulin released, to regulate and lower
- if blood sugar low: glucagon promotes production of sugar from other sources
“Master Gland” - Pituitary
Brain(hypothalamus) -> pituitary stalk -> pituitary gland
Sella turcia of sphenoid: pituitary is housed
Lobes of pituitary
Anterior: growth an maturation controlled here
Posterior: doesn’t do a lot physically, makes connections and a thin layer of cells called intermediate layer
Intermediate layer: responsible for temporary change in skin tone
Growth hormone (Anterior)
Pulse released in response to low blood sugar
-deep sleep
-children > adults
increased synthesis of new proteins from a.a.
body fat to glucose
age graded
Children: increase production of proteins
Adults: lower levels- fat to glucose for times of need
Thyroid stimulating hormone(Anterior)
Thyroid hormone (TH - thyroxine)
increased basal metabolic rate (BMR) -> oxygen uptake and energy expenditure
GH must have TH- TH exists for our body to have GH
Controls BMR: minimum amount of energy needed at rest
body is sensitive to extremes (emotions, temp)- causes TH to fluctuate -> increase release of GH
Corticotrophin(Anterior)
Adrenals:
- outer: (adrenal cortex) and inner ( adrenal medulla) portions
- cortex secretes steroids and anabolic hormones
- medulla secretes epinephrine (adrenaline)
Gonadotropins(Anterior)
ovaries and testes
Vasopressin (posterior)
water regulation, modulates BP
-homeostasis: regularly released, conserves water when dehydrated
Disordered Growth
GH, TH, Adrenals
Excess GH
Similar to diabetes mellitus
no reason to worry, as long as it stops postnatally
Types of diabetes
Type I: Insulin dependent
-pancreas doesn’t produce inulin
Type II: Non-insulin dependent
-cells unable to absorb blood glucose properly
-later in life, can be cause by lifestyle
Gigantism(GH)
pre-pubertal
can try to counter GH by muting it- not always possible
Acromegaly (GH)
post-pubertal
bones can’t grow length wise anymore, grow width wise
Hyposecretion
growth failure at an early stage
-growth charts can indicate abnormalities in growth
Psychosocial dwarfism
institutionalized children were exposed to bad environment- sadistic teacher
many so distressed GH/TH was suppressed- led to form of dwarfism
when removed, (after 3 months) physiological markers returned to normal
Hyperthyroidism
1) Autoimmune disorders: body attacks itself
- Graves diseases: physical characteristics
2) Thyroiditis: swelling of thyroid gland
- oversecretion in youth can lead to undersecretion in adults ( only 3% of pop. will suffer from this)
Hypothyroidism
1) Thyroiditis: lowers release of thyroid
- if detected early can be fixed
2) Nodular: growth on thyroid gland
- reduces amount of TH produced( obesity potential symptom)
Cortisol
Regulate and control breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and fats for energy
Too little cortisol
Addisons- connected to stress and how it’s managed
- no relationship to growth patterns
- perceive to mismanage life stress
- darkening of skin tone
Too much cortisol
Cushing’s- decreased growth
-temporary
Gross motor development
COG shifts down-up
Gait pattern progresses- perform movement in alternating patterns
mobility is independent
many children start organized sports
Fine Motor development
dressing: zippers, large buttons, Velcro
utensils: start with spoons(ulnar grasp), move to forks
cognitive combination: attached to drawings- show what they know or think
Piagets preoperational stage
1) Egocentrism
2) Inability to conserve
3) Lack of hierarchical classification
Egocentrism
representation of world is only from their perspective- self focus
3 mountain problem
Inability to conserve
sameness in physical characteristics despite change
-centration: focus too narrow
-perception bound: looks like therefore must be
-state vs transformations - unrelated: see what is happening but can’t detect change
4 errors: liquid, numbers, mass, length
Lack of hierarchical classification
Can’t organize on basis of similarities and differences
Class inclusion problems - flower example
Lose this quickly
Language development
Age 6= 10 000 words
Fast mapping: allows us to increase vocab
-attach name to thing/action/person quicker
Develop grammar and conversation
Grammar
Meaningful phrases and sentences
2-3: subject-verb-object order “I take car”
Make adjustments: pluralize, tenses, prepositions
The more words you know, the more mistakes you make with grammar
Conversation
Pragmatics: engage in effective an appropriate conversation - taking turns, responding, maintain
Oxytocin (posterior)
uterine motility/ lactation
-during labor: defacement
