Psy 101 Sec 9.1 Prenatal Development Flashcards
Developmental Psychology
The branch of psychology that explores physical, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of development.
Maturation
The biological unfolding of the organism according to the underlying genetic code.
Ovulation
The release of an egg cell (ovum) from the ovary.
Ovaries
The female gonads, which secrete the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone and produce mature egg cells.
Fallopian Tube
A straw-like tube between an ovary and the uterus through which an ovum passes after ovulation.
Zygote
A fertilized egg cell.
Germinal Stage
The stage of prenatal development that spans the period from fertilization through implantation.
Fertilization
The union of sperm and ovum.
Embryonic Stage
The stage of prenatal development from implantation through about the eighth week of pregnancy during which the major organ systems begin to form.
Embryo
The developing organism at an early stage of prenatal development.
Neural Tube
The area in the embryo from which the nervous system develops.
amniotic sac
The uterine sac that contains the fetus. Protects fetus
Placenta
The organ that provides for the exchange of nutrients and waste materials between mother and fetus.
Fetal Stage
The stage of prenatal development in which the fetus develops, beginning around the ninth week of pregnancy and lasting until the birth of the child.
Fetus
The developing organism in the later stages of prenatal development.
Spina Bifida
A neural tube defect in which the child is born with a hole in the tube surrounding the spinal cord. Most cases are mild and do not involve any significant problems, but in severe cases, problems such as difficulty walking or performing daily activities without assistance may result.
Teratogen
An environmental influence or agent that may harm the developing embryo or fetus.
Rubella
A common childhood disease that can lead to serious birth defects if contracted by the mother during pregnancy (also called German measles).
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
The sudden and unexplained death of infants that usually occurs when they are asleep in their cribs.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
A syndrome caused by maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy in which the child shows developmental delays and facial deformities.
The first stage of prenatal development, which ends with implantation in the uterine wall, is called the ________ stage.
Germinal Stage
