Physical Growth

Growth

Varies from country to country & culture to culture

• hereditary & environment contribute

Secular changes in physical growth

Changes from one generation to the next

Trends in Physcial Growth

For Girls: Earlier

Boys: Later

Improved nutrition and health are most significant factors

Hormonal Influences

Endocrine Glands: manufacture Hormones

Pituitary Gland: important hormones for growth

Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH)

Necessary for brain development and maximize GH

Estrogen & Testosterone

Sex hormones, present in each sex just varied amounts

Humans take how much of their life growing

20%

Growth Patterns are Measured by

• distance growth (indicates growth each year on average by age)

• Velocity growth (amount of growth typical each year, indicates growth spurts)

• Skeletal Age (measure of development of bones)

Oxytocin

Hormone that

For moms: increases/enhances caregiving behavior

Teens: increases response to social emotional stimuli. Pleasure seeking hormone

Expectant brain growth

Young brain develops rapidly through organization and experience.

Experienced Brain growth

Occurs throughout lifespan and consists of addition growth from specific learning experiences that vary

(Learning how to do something & being able to execute it.