Human Development: Prenatal Stages

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Questions and Answers

What is the duration of the germinal stage?

From 2 to 8 weeks

From conception to about 2 weeks (correct)

From conception to 4 weeks

From 0 to 2 weeks

During which stage do most vital organs and bodily systems emerge?

Zygote formation stage

Germinal stage

Embryonic stage (correct)

Foetal stage

At what point in the foetal stage does the zone of viability occur?

At birth

At 38 weeks

Around 22 weeks

Around 26 weeks (correct)

What significant development occurs in the third month of the foetal stage?

Development of sex organs Signup and view all the answers

What role does amniotic fluid play during the embryonic stage?

It cushions and protects the embryo Signup and view all the answers

What is one factor that can negatively influence prenatal development?

Maternal stress and emotion Signup and view all the answers

Which maternal condition is associated with a high risk of damaging brain development in a fetus?

Rubella Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following substances is considered detrimental when used by mothers during pregnancy?

Alcohol Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental factor can potentially influence prenatal development?

Air pollution Signup and view all the answers

The neonatal period is recognized as lasting approximately how long after birth?

Two to four weeks Signup and view all the answers

What reflexes are important for a newborn's survival immediately after birth?

Rooting, sucking, and swallowing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing prenatal development?

Infant vaccination Signup and view all the answers

What hormonal response is generated due to maternal stress during pregnancy?

Cortisol Signup and view all the answers

At what age do most children typically utter their first word?

12 months Signup and view all the answers

What term describes one-word sentences used by young children to convey whole meanings?

Holo-phrases Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of language development involves the use of consonant-vowel combinations?

Babbling stage Signup and view all the answers

What is the vocabulary size of a child by the age of 18 months?

50 words Signup and view all the answers

At what age does a child typically begin to use telegraphic speech?

24 months Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of vision in neonates?

Neonates have blurry vision and cannot focus properly. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of hearing development in neonates?

They distinguish human speech from other sounds. Signup and view all the answers

At what age does the brain of a neonate reach about 50% of its eventual adult weight?

At one year Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following developments occurs during the preschool period?

Body proportions change significantly as the child grows. Signup and view all the answers

What influence does malnutrition have on a child's development?

It may stunt brain growth and cognitive development. Signup and view all the answers

During the first year of life, how much does an infant's birth weight typically change?

It doubles. Signup and view all the answers

Which developmental trend describes growth from the head downward?

Cephalocaudal trend Signup and view all the answers

What sensory preference is well-developed in neonates regarding taste?

Preference for sweet over sour tastes. Signup and view all the answers

What describes the growth pattern of gross and fine motor skills during the preschool period?

Gross motor skills develop faster than fine motor skills. Signup and view all the answers

At what age does a preference for right or left hand typically begin to show?

Around two years Signup and view all the answers

What is a key environmental factor that can stunt a child's physical development?

Sustained periods of malnutrition Signup and view all the answers

What changes occur in the brain between the ages of five and seven?

The brain experiences a growth spurt in the frontal lobes. Signup and view all the answers

Which process involves changing existing mental structures to explain new experiences?

Accommodation Signup and view all the answers

What do the two complementary processes in cognitive development, according to Jean Piaget, involve?

Assimilation and accommodation Signup and view all the answers

During middle childhood, physical growth is characterized by which of the following?

Slower average growth rate Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of cognitive development does Piaget emphasize through interaction with the environment?

Mental activities are altered via interaction and maturation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Germinal Stage

Lasts from conception to about two weeks
Conception occurs when the sperm cell fertilizes the ovum
Rapid cell division occurs, and the mass of cells migrates to the uterus
The mass of cells implants into the uterine wall, forming a placenta during the implantation process.

Embryonic Stage

From the end of the 2nd week until the 8th week
Development of the placenta and the umbilical cord
Most of the vital organs and bodily systems such as the heart, spine and brain emerge.
The embryo is contained in a sac within the mother’s uterus and is surrounded by amniotic fluid.

Foetal Stage

Lasts from 8 weeks to birth.
Muscles and bones begin to form.
Sex organs develop in the third month.
Brain cells multiply during the final three months.
By about 26 weeks, the zone of viability is reached - when the baby could survive if born prematurely.

Factors Influencing Prenatal Development

Genetic Disorders
- Gene abnormalities
- Chromosome abnormalities
Culture, Family, & Environmental Toxins
- Culture influences thoughts and decisions around pregnancy and child-rearing
- Miscarriages
- Changes in family structure over time
- Environmental toxins - air pollution, radio-activity
Maternal Nutrition/Malnutrition
Maternal Illness and Psychopathology
- Many illnesses are high risk for damaging brain development
- Lead to intellectual and other disorders
- Examples include rubella, syphilis, HIV
Maternal Stress and Emotion
- Stress hormones affect blood pressure and the immune system.
Maternal Drug Use
- Alcohol, smoking, and other substances can affect prenatal development.
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can also affect development.

Neonatal Period

Spans approximately the first two to four weeks after birth
The newborn is much more competent than was previously thought
Display more than 20 reflexes over which they initially have no control
- Involuntary responses to specific stimuli
- Important for the newborn’s survival
Absence of reflexes may be an early indication of neurological problems

Neonatal Period: Perceptual Development

Neonates are able to take in information from their environment via their senses
- Vision
  - The visual system is present at birth
  - The ability to coordinate the movement of the eyes is not fully developed
  - Cannot focus properly (blurry vision)
  - Neonates actively scan their surroundings
  - Can see objects about 21 cm away
  - Preference for looking at faces and patterns with sharp contrasts
- Hearing
  - Can distinguish human speech from other sounds
  - Can distinguish between human speech sounds
  - Preference for their mother's voice
  - Baby talk directed towards them
- Taste and Smell
  - Well-developed sense of smell
  - Can distinguish between different smells
  - Well-developed sense of taste
  - Strong preference for sweet as opposed to sour tastes.

Preschool Period

Characterized by rapid growth during the first two years of life, slower pattern of growth between the ages of two and six years.
Growth follows the cephalocaudal developmental trend and the proximodistal developmental trend.
- Cephalocaudal Developmental Trend
  - From the head downward
  - The trunk grows fastest during the first year.
  - Gain control over muscles of the head and neck, then the arms and abdomen, and finally legs.
  - By four to six months, birth weight has often doubled.
  - By the end of year one, birth weight has often tripled.
  - Body proportions also change.
  - The brain increases from being 25% of its eventual adult weight at birth to being about 50% at the age of one year.
  - Ability to acquire new information increases.
  - Genetics and the environment influence growth.
  - Malnutrition may stunt brain growth and cognitive development.
- Proximodistal Developmental Trend
  - From the center outward
  - Gross motor skills develop faster than fine motor skills during this period.
  - Preference for the right or left hand begins to show at about two years.
  - Environmental factors can stunt or delay normal development.
  - Sustained periods of malnutrition are associated with stunted growth.

Middle Childhood

Age 6 to puberty
Slower average growth rate
Increase in strength, coordination, and muscular control, leads to improved gross motor and fine motor skills.
An improvement in motor-perceptual functioning (hand-eye coordination).
Three main environmental influences on physical growth and development: the quality of care, nutrition, and illnesses
Brain continues to grow in both structure and function.
- Between five and seven years, the brain experiences a growth spurt, particularly in the frontal lobes
- Frontal lobe development is important for planning and for the development of executive functions.

Cognitive Development

Refers to the age-related changes that occur in mental activities such as paying attention, perceiving, learning, thinking, and remembering.
Jean Piaget’s theory: interaction with the environment and maturation gradually alters the way children think.
- Assimilation: interpreting new experiences in terms of existing mental structures without changing them.
- Accommodation: changing existing mental structures to explain new experiences.

Language Development

At birth, undifferentiated crying to communicate their needs.
After the first month, caregivers can distinguish cries of pain, hunger, discomfort, tiredness, and boredom by listening to the pitch of the cry.
Six to eight weeks, babies start making cooing sounds.
Around four months, babies utter consonant–vowel combinations in long strings, such as ‘babababa’ or ‘mamamama’.
Six to seven months, babbling starts to resemble the child’s home language.
Most children utter their first word at about 12 months.
- Start with holo-phrases: one-word sentences to convey the meaning of a whole sentence.
- Vocabulary increases to about 50 words by the age of 18 months.
At about 24 months, babies use telegraphic speech.
- Only those words that are necessary to communicate meaning.
From three to six years, vocabulary and sentence length increase.
By age six, the child uses all the parts of speech.
- Vocabulary spurt: develops a vocabulary of approximately 10 000 words.
- Four years later, their vocabulary increases to around 40 000 words.

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Description

Explore the vital stages of human prenatal development from conception to birth. This quiz covers the germinal, embryonic, and fetal stages, highlighting key processes, organ formation, and factors influencing development. Test your understanding of how life begins and evolves in the womb.