Ch 9. Prenatal Influences on Development

Explain what is FAS? 3 points.

Certain chemicals or agents can cause harm if ingested and contracted by the mother can harm the child (i.e. alcohol) The placenta will mostly filter out potentially harmful substances, but teratogen passes through the placenta. Children with alcoholic mothers may suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) - children are born with small, malformed skulls and mental retardation.

Who was the first person to successfully champion the view that development occurs across an entire lifetime?

Erik Erikson

What affects development?

Genes influence our development (i.e. IQ or down syndrome)

What are the 3 stages of gestation?

Germinal stage: Division of the single-celled zygote begins. Zygote migrates from the fallopian tube to implant itself in the uterine wall. Embryonic Stage: Cell differentiation begins. The embryo begins sexual differentiation and starts to develop organs and other major body structures. Fetal Stage: Fetus develops muscles and skeletal system, which enables it to move around the uterus. Organs continue to develop. Rapid brain development occurs during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

What are the sources of birth defects?

Infections, exposure to radiation, nutritional deficiencies.

Define normative development

Normative development' means stages of development that the majority of children of that specific age are expected to achieve.

Define teratogen

an agent or factor that causes malformation of an embryo.