Physical Changes from Birth to Death

prenatal development

germinal stage

embryonic stage

fetal stage

teratogens

substances that can cause birth defects or developmental problems in a developing fetus

fetal alcohol syndrome

when the mother consumes alcohol while she is pregnant. can cause a range of physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems for the infant

maternal illness

any disease/infection that a mother experiences during pregnancy that can affect the developing fetus

genetic mutation

occur spontaneously or can be inherited from parents. can lead to genetic disorders that can affect physical and cognitive development

atypical brain development

caused by hormone imbalances in the brain. affects behavior and cognitive abilities

environmental factors

external factors that affect prenatal development

infant reflexes

involuntary movements in the infant that is necessary for survival. often neurological responses

palmer grasp

when a finger is placed in the baby’s palm, they could curl their fingers around the finger

planter grasp

when a finger is placed underneath a baby’s toes, they will curl their toes

babinski reflex

when the sole of the baby’s foot is stroked, the big toe would move upward and their other toes will fan out

rooting reflex

when a baby’s cheek is gently stroked, they would turn in that direction with their mouth open, ready for food

gross motor skills

larger movements, such as crawling and walking, allowing the child to navigate their environment

fine motor skills

smaller movements, like holding a spoon, that are critical for feeding, drawing, or playing

visual cliff experiment

provides insight of when an infant develops depth perception.

imprint

when an infant forms an attachment with the first moving object they see, typically the mother

critical period

the time period of when a specific behavior or skill must be aquired

sensitive period

the time period where the brain is able to more quickly learn certain skills

adolencense

starts with puberty

puberty

when a person reaches sexual maturity, meaning they can reproduce

primary sex characteristics

characteristics that are directly related to the reproductive system and the ability to reproduce

menarche

the first time girls menstrate

spermarche

the first time boys ejaculate

secondary sex characteristics

traits that are indirectly related to reproduction, such as men having broader shoulders or women having less facial hair

adolescence growth spurt

rapid increase in height and weight during puberty

menopause

in middle adulthood for women. marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and the ability to conceive