Physical Development Flashcards by Mollie Dosdale

What does a zygote contain in terms of genetics.

It contains genetic material from the mother and father.

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What happens after a week?

Cell division begins and after a week the zygote implants itself into the lining of the womb.

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How does human life begin?

Human life begins with the fertilisation of an egg by sperm to create the cell known as a zygote.

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Draw out a table to show the prenatal stages.

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How long does the Germinal stage last for?

Two weeks

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What two significant things happen during the germinal stage?

Cell division of the zygote
Attachment to the uterus lining.

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Describe the speed of development in the Germinal stage…

The first cell duplication is slow, then the rate increases…

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How long does the embryonic stage last for?

The embryonic stage lasts for six weeks

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What development do we see during the embryonic stage?

Organ development begins (heart, stomach, nervous system)
Facial features
Arms and legs develop.

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How long does the fetal stage last for?

seven months

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Describe the speed of development the fetal stage?

There is a rapid increase in size

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What also begins in the fetal stage?

Movement of the fetus

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What happens in the second trimester of the fetal stage?

By six months, the eyelids open and the fetus can breathe is premature.

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What happens in the third trimester of the fetal stage?

All of the organs become functional and there is a good chance of survival is the baby in premature.
Also brain development- the fetus can learn about external sounds.

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What can external substances do during pregnancy?

Many external substances can pass through the womb to the embryo or foetus.

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The unfolding of prenatal stages is ? but the environment can ?

The unfolding of prenatal stages is genetically determined but the environment can affect development.

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What is the environment during prenatal development?

The mothers body

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What are the negative environmental substances called?

Teratogens

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Give five examples of teratogens that can negatively affect development.

Viruses
pollution
gases
drugs
toxins

What are teratogens?

Harmful substances which can cause birth defects, especially during the embryonic stage

What is the significant about teratogens during the embryonic stage?

The embryonic stage is a critical period for normal growth… Problems will result in permanent defects, e.g., malformed heart.

What does fetal alcohol syndrome cause?

Intellectual disability and facial malformations

What do we see in smokers babies?

Born prematurely and problems with attention and social interaction

What is a new born’s early vision like?

A newborn can see but their vision is blurry.

What is not fully developed in new borns?

eyes and associated brain regions

Give four examples of how the eyes and associated brain regions are not fully developed at birth?

* Eyes are smaller than adults. * Less cells in fovea (area at back of eye). * Connections between eye and brain are inefficient. * Visual tracking is slow and jerky.

What things can newborns see?

* They are sensitive to movement, * well-defined contours, * and contrast between light and dark areas.

What are visually attractive to newborns?

HUMAN FACES are attractive. Will look longer at faces than other items. Interested in eyes.

What interesting visual skill do newborns have?

Size constancy – they correctly perceive object as same size at varying distances.

What visual skill have newborns not yet developed?

Depth perception – Cannot yet use visual cues to perceive the world in 3D.

Simply put, what is newborns hearing like?

Like vision, newborn hearing is not as sharp as it is for adults.

What can newborns hear?

Newborns can hear quiet voices and even discriminate between different musical notes. They are also well-attuned to the small speech units of language (even non-native languages).

What will newborns try and do with sound?

Newborns will try and locate the source of a sound.

What sounds do newborns have a preference for?

Preference for mother’s voice and native language – auditory learning may occur while in the womb.

What are refelexes?

REFLEXES – automatic motor responses to specific stimuli.

What first two reflexes do newborns have?

Sucking reflex and grasping reflex.

When do these first two reflexes fade in newborns motor skills?

Reflexes fade after infants acquire voluntary control over their muscles.

What are other early motor skills influenced by?

Learning

How do psychologists think crawling is learnt?

Through trial and error.

How might maturation interact?

Maturation might interact by influencing muscle strength.

What causes mental and perceptual skills to develop with age during brain development?

At birth, the infant is already equipped with a full set of brain cells (neurons). What changes with age is NOT the number of neurons, but the CONNECTIONS between neurons.

What happens regarding neural connections as a child grows older?

* As the child grows older, the number and complexity of neural connections increases. * The brain overproduces connections. A six-year-old has more neural connections than the average adult. This is known as growth

What happens as a result of this growth of neural connections during brain development?

* The most useful connections are retained. * Surplus connections get ‘pruned’ by the brain (this is known as pruning) * Slight decrease in brain volume during adolescence.

What is known as growth during brain development?

When the number and complexity of neural connections increases.

What is known as pruning during brain development?

When the most useful connections are retained and the surplus connections get ‘pruned’ by the brain.

Three conclusions of physical development I?

1. There is a ‘timetable’ of physical development in the womb. Environmental substances can impact health. 2. The newborn has a limited range of perceptual and motor skills. These abilities may be innate, but the environment influences these skills. 3. Brain development is defined by the growth and subsequent pruning of neural connections.