Infancy: Physical Development – Part I

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to physical development in infancy, including reflexes, brain development, physical growth, and sensory abilities.

Infant Reflexes

Automatic responses to certain stimuli that infants are born with, such as the Babinski reflex and rooting reflex.

Babinski Reflex

A reflex where an infant's toes splay out when the sole of the foot is stroked.

Stepping Reflex

A reflex where babies appear to take steps when held upright.

Palmar Grasp Reflex

A reflex where an infant will grasp anything placed in their palm.

Moro Reflex

A reflex where an infant throws arms out and then retracts them in response to a sensation of falling.

Rooting Reflex

A reflex that helps infants find food; they turn their head in the direction of tactile stimulation around the mouth.

Sucking Reflex

A reflex that enables infants to suck and swallow for feeding.

Cephalocaudal Principle

The principle that development proceeds from the head down.

Proximodistal Principle

The principle that development proceeds from the center of the body outward.

Crying

The primary means by which infants communicate their needs.

Shaken-Baby Syndrome

A serious brain injury resulting from shaking an infant, leading to symptoms like subdural hematoma and retinal bleeding.

Synaptic pruning

The process where extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions.

Vision – Visual Cliff

An experiment demonstrating depth perception in infants; younger infants may cross, but older ones avoid it due to fear.

Taste and Smell in Infants

Taste and smell are functional at birth, with infants showing a preference for sweet tastes.

Physical Growth

Infants grow rapidly in height and weight; two-year-olds are about half their adult height.