Prenatal and Postnatal Development Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to prenatal and postnatal development, including stages of growth, factors influencing development, and conditions affecting motor functions.

Ectoderm

The embryonic layer responsible for the development of the nervous system, organs, senses, and skin.

Mesoderm

The embryonic layer that develops into muscles, bones, the circulatory system, the reproductive system, and kidneys.

Endoderm

The embryonic layer that forms the respiratory system, digestive system, and glands.

Teratogen

Any drug or chemical agent that causes abnormal development and defects.

Hyperplasia

Growth in the number of cells; a rapid increase in the total number of cells within the fetus.

Hypertrophy

Growth in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in the overall size of the body or organ.

Cephalocaudal development

Growth pattern that occurs from the head down to the lower body.

Proximal-distal development

Growth that occurs from the center of the body outward to the extremities.

Congenital defects

Anomalies present at birth that may arise from genetic or extrinsic factors.

Osteoporosis

A condition characterized by below-average bone mineral density.

Myelin

A substance that insulates nerve fibers and facilitates faster transmission of electrical signals between neurons.

Glial cells

Cells that support and protect neurons, providing nutrients and maintaining homeostasis within the nervous system.

Plasticity

The ability of cells and the brain to adapt and change in response to experience and learning.

Sensory perception

The process where the brain organizes sensory information to interpret stimuli.

Proprioception

The sense that informs one about the position and movement of the body.

Postnatal development

Growth and changes that occur in humans after birth.

Biomechanics

The study of the movements and mechanical processes of living organisms.

Critical periods

Specific times in development where certain environmental stimuli are necessary for the development of a skill or behavior.

Handedness

A preference for using one hand over the other for tasks; typically seen in terms of right-handedness or left-handedness.