3.2- Physical Development Across the Lifespan

What can impact a child's prenatal development?

Maternal illness, genetic mutations, hormonal factors, environmental factors, teratogens

Teratogens

Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

What do infancy reflexes show?

Healthy development

Rooting Reflex

A baby's tendency, when touched on the cheek, to turn toward the touch, open the mouth, and search for the nipple

Gross Motor Skills

Physical abilities involving large body movements, such as walking and jumping

Fine Motor Skills

Physical abilities involving small body movements, especially of the hands and fingers, such as drawing and picking up a coin

Visual Cliff Experiment

Gibson and Walk. Infants as young as 6 months usually hesitate to crawl past the apparent edge of a visual cliff, which suggests that they are able to perceive depth

Critical Period

A specific window of time in early development when certain experiences must occur for normal development to happen

Sensitive Period

A time during development when a person is more responsive or sensitive to certain stimuli or experiences

Imprinting

The process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life

Growth Spurt

A dramatic increase in height and weight that occurs during puberty

Puberty

The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing

Menarche

The first menstrual period

Spermarche

First ejaculation

Primary Sex Characteristics

The body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair

Adulthood Development

Gradual decline physically, mentally, & reproductively (menopause)