Topic 3.2

Teratogens

Agents that can cross the placenta and harm the developing embryo or fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

A pattern of physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems caused by heavy prenatal alcohol exposure.

Down Syndrome

A chromosomal condition (trisomy 21) that leads to characteristic physical features and varying levels of intellectual disability.

Cephalocaudal

The developmental pattern that progresses from head to toe.

Proximodistal

The developmental pattern that progresses from the center of the body outward.

Gross Motor Skills

Large body movements that use big muscle groups, like crawling, walking, and running.

Fine Motor Skills

Small, precise movements of the hands and fingers, such as grasping or drawing.

Pincer Grasp

A fine-motor grip using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects.

Rooting

An infant reflex where a baby turns the head and opens the mouth when the cheek is stroked.

Moro

The infant startle reflex in which a baby throws out the arms and then pulls them back in after a sudden movement or loud sound.

Palmar Grasp

An infant reflex where a baby tightly grips an object placed in the palm.

Visual Cliff

A research setup with a glass-covered “drop-off” used to test whether infants perceive depth.

Depth Perception

The ability to judge distance and see the world in three dimensions.

Critical Periods

Narrow developmental windows when certain experiences must occur for normal development.

Sensitive Periods

Optimal windows when learning is easiest, though it’s still possible later.

Growth Spurt

A rapid increase in height and weight during adolescence.

Puberty

The hormonal process that leads to sexual maturation and reproductive capability.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Body structures directly involved in reproduction, such as ovaries, testes, and external genitalia.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Visible changes not directly required for reproduction, like body hair, deeper voice, and breast development.

Menarche

A girl’s first menstrual period, marking the onset of fertility.

Spermarche

A boy’s first ejaculation, marking the start of sperm production.

Prefrontal Cortex

The brain region behind the forehead involved in planning, decision-making, and impulse control.

Limbic System

A set of brain structures that process emotion and reward, including areas like the amygdala and nucleus accumbens.

Menopause

The natural end of menstrual cycles and fertility in women, typically in the late 40s to 50s.