Growth and Development in Children

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Growth and Development lecture notes.

What is Growth?

Physical maturation; increase in physical size; quantitative change measured by units such as grams, kilograms, or pounds.

What is Development?

Physiological maturation; progressive increase in skill and capacity to function; qualitative change of the body.

How do Growth and Development differ in terms of change type?

Growth is quantitative (size), while development is qualitative (function/ability). They are related but distinct.

Are Growth and Development continuous processes?

Yes, from conception to death (womb to tomb).

Do all parts of the body grow at the same rate?

No. Growth is asynchronous; different parts grow at different rates.

Which part of the body grows fastest prenatally?

The head.

During the first year, which part's elongation dominates?

The trunk (elongation of the trunk dominates).

What does the Cephalo-Caudal principle state?

Growth and development proceed from head to toe (cephalad to caudal).

What does the Proximodistal principle state?

Growth proceeds from the center of the body outward to the periphery.

What does the General to Specific principle illustrate in motor development?

Infants first use a whole-hand grasp before refining with the thumb and forefinger.

List the main stages of Growth and Development. (Prenatal to adolescence)

Prenatal (Embryonic 0–8 weeks; Fetal 8–40/42 weeks); Neonate (birth to 1 month); Infancy (1 month to 1 year); Early Childhood (Toddler 1–3, Preschool 3–6); Middle Childhood (School-age 6–12); Adolescent (13–18); Late Adolescent (18–21).

What defines the Neonate stage?

Birth to end of 1 month (first 28 days of life).

What defines the Infant stage?

1 month to end of 1 year.

What defines the Toddler stage?

1–3 years.

What defines the Preschool stage?

3–6 years.

What defines the School-age stage?

6–12 years.

What defines the Adolescent stage?

13–18 years.

What defines the Late Adolescent stage?

18–21 years.

What are the two main categories of growth and development?

Growth: physical size changes; Development: progression of functional abilities.

What factors influence Growth and Development?

Heredity and Environmental factors (Pre-natal, External, Internal).

Name some Pre-natal environmental factors related to the mother during pregnancy.

Nutritional deficiencies, diabetes in the mother, exposure to radiation, German measles, smoking, drug use.

Name some fetal Pre-natal environmental factors.

Mal-position in uterus; faulty placental implantation.

List External environmental factors that influence growth and development.

Socio-economic status; nutrition; climate and season; birth order; number of siblings; family structure.

Name some Internal environmental factors affecting growth and development.

Intelligence; hormonal influences; emotions.

What is the normal newborn heart rate range?

120–160 beats per minute.

What is the normal newborn respiratory rate range?

35–50 breaths per minute.

What is the typical newborn chest circumference relative to head circumference?

Chest circumference is about 30.5–33 cm, approximately 23 cm less than head circumference.

What is the typical infant head circumference relative to body length at birth?

Head is about 1/4 of total body length.

What is the anterior fontanel and when does it close?

A diamond-shaped fontanel; about 3–4 cm; closes at 12–18 months.

When does the posterior fontanel close?

By the end of the first month of age.

How does fetal hemoglobin (HbF) change after birth?

HbF is high at birth (60–90% of total Hb) and gradually decreases to <5% by about 1 year.

What is the peak newborn hemoglobin level, and when does it occur?

Highest at birth: about 17 g/100 ml; then declines.

When does adult hemoglobin typically rise to about 14.5 g/100 ml?

Between ages 1 and 12 years.

Which sex typically has higher hemoglobin levels after infancy?

Males, influenced by testosterone and muscle mass.

What happens to heart rate and blood pressure with age in growth and development?

Heart rate decreases with age; BP increases with age (approximately 2–3 mmHg per year after age 7).

What is the typical pattern for blood pressure in adolescence?

Systolic pressure higher in males than females.

What are the two main types of motor development?

Gross motor development and fine motor development.

What is gross motor development?

Ability to perform large body movements; includes milestones such as sitting, standing, walking.

What is fine motor development?

Coordination of small muscle movements, especially hands and fingers.

Which four positions are used to assess gross motor development?

Ventral suspension, prone, sitting, and standing.

What does MCES stand for?

Motor, Cognitive, Emotional, and Social development.

What does cognitive development study?

Development of knowledge and skills; how information is processed, learned, and problem-solved.

What does emotional development entail?

Ability to recognize, express, and manage feelings; empathy; influenced by relationships.

What does social development focus on?

Process of learning to interact with others and communicate.

What is the newborn sense most highly developed?

Touch.

Which sense helps a newborn locate the nipple?

Smell (breast milk odor).

What is the Moro reflex and when does it disappear?

Startle reflex with extended arms/legs; disappears at 5–7 months.

What is the rooting reflex, and when does it disappear?

Turns head toward stroked mouth and sucks; disappears around 2–3 months.

What is the palmar grasp reflex and when does it disappear?

Grasp with whole hand; disappears around 2–3 months.

What is the Babinski reflex and when does it disappear?

Upward big toe with fanned toes; disappears at 9–12 months.

What is the Landau reflex and when does it occur?

When the infant is placed in a prone suspended position, the head lifts and the spine straightens; present birth to 6 months.

What is the rooting reflex duration?

Lasts about 4 months; disappears by 2–3 months.