Teratogens and Child Development

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to teratogens and child development as presented in the lecture notes.

Teratogen

An agent or factor that causes malformation or birth defects of an embryo.

Teratogenic

Referring to substances or agents that can interfere with normal embryonic development.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)

A range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy.

Rh disease

A blood type incompatibility between a Rh-negative mother and a Rh-positive baby that can cause severe health issues.

Psychoactive drugs

Substances that act on the nervous system to alter states of consciousness and change moods.

Cephalocaudal development

Development that proceeds in the direction from head to tail.

Proximodistal development

Development that progresses from the center of the body outward.

Catch-up growth

The accelerated growth that occurs after periods of malnutrition or illness, leading to a return to a genetically determined pattern of growth.

Myelination

The process by which a fatty sheath surrounds the axons of neurons, significantly impacting motor control and sensory development.

Prenatal period

The stage of development that occurs from conception to birth.

Differentiation

The process where as a baby matures, their physical reactions become increasingly specific.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The sudden and unexplained death of an infant, often associated with exposure to tobacco smoke.

Incompatible blood types

When a mother and child have different blood types that can lead to potential health risks during pregnancy.

Teratogen

An agent or factor that causes malformation or birth defects of an embryo.

Teratogenic

Referring to substances or agents that can interfere with normal embryonic development.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)

A range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy.

Rh disease

A blood type incompatibility between a Rh-negative mother and a Rh-positive baby that can cause severe health issues.

Psychoactive drugs

Substances that act on the nervous system to alter states of consciousness and change moods.

Cephalocaudal development

Development that proceeds in the direction from head to tail.

Proximodistal development

Development that progresses from the center of the body outward.

Catch-up growth

The accelerated growth that occurs after periods of malnutrition or illness, leading to a return to a genetically determined pattern of growth.

Myelination

The process by which a fatty sheath surrounds the axons of neurons, significantly impacting motor control and sensory development.

Prenatal period

The stage of development that occurs from conception to birth.

Differentiation

The process where as a baby matures, their physical reactions become increasingly specific.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The sudden and unexplained death of an infant, often associated with exposure to tobacco smoke.

Incompatible blood types

When a mother and child have different blood types that can lead to potential health risks during pregnancy.

Germinal period

The first two weeks of prenatal development, from conception to implantation.

Embryonic period

The stage of prenatal development from implantation until about 8 weeks, during which major organs and basic body structures form.

Fetal period

The stage of prenatal development from 9 weeks until birth, characterized by growth and maturation of body systems.

Zygote

A fertilized egg, representing the first stage of prenatal development.

Embryo

The developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.

Fetus

The developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.

Apgar scale

A quick assessment performed on a baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth to evaluate their physical condition (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration).

Critical period

A specific time during development when an organism is especially sensitive to environmental influences, often with lasting effects if proper development doesn't occur.