EMT Course Chapter 7 - Life Span Development

Life Span Development

Palmar grasp reflex

An infant reflex that occurs when something is placed in the infant’s palm; the infant grasps the object.

Preschooler

A child age 3 to 6 years.

Sucking reflex

An infant reflex in which the infant starts sucking when his or her lips are stroked.

School age

A person who is 6 to 12 years of age.

Atherosclerosis

A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of the blood vessels, forming plaque, which eventually leads to a partial or complete blockage of blood flow.

Neonate

A newborn age birth to 1 month.

Older Adult

An adult age 61 years or older.

Barotrauma

Injury caused by pressure to enclosed body surfaces, for example, from too much pressure in the lungs.

Early adult

A young adult age 19 to 40 years.

Moro reflex

An infant reflex in which, when an infant is caught off guard, the infant opens his or her arms wide, spreads the fingers, and seems to grab at things.

Toddler

A child age 1 to 3 years.

Middle adult

An adult age 41 to 60 years.

Postconventional reasoning

A type of reasoning in which a child bases decisions on his or her conscience.

Life expectancy

The average number of years a person can be expected to live.

Preconventional reasoning

A type of reasoning in which a child acts almost purely to avoid punishment or to get what he or she wants.

Adolescent

A young person age 12 to 18 years.

Conventional reasoning

A type of reasoning in which a child looks for approval from peers and society.

Fontanelles

Areas where the neonate’s or infant’s skull has not fused together; usually disappear at approximately 18 months of age.

Trust versus mistrust

The stage of development from birth to approximately 18 months of age, during which infants gain trust in their parents or caregivers if their world is planned, organized, and routine.

Infant

A young child age 1 month to 1 year.

Nephrons

The basic filtering units in the kidneys.