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| The idea that there is an emergence of new structures and functions rather than there simply being growth of smaller structures into larger ones. |
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| The study of prenatal development. |
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| Reproductive cells that contain only half the genetic material of all other normal cells in the body. |
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| Specialized cell division necessary for reproduction that produces cells (gametes) that have only one half of the normal complement of chromosomes. |
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| The union of an egg and sperm. |
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| The fertilized egg formed from the union of an egg cell and a sperm cell. |
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| The idea that because of our common evolutionary history, humans share some characteristics and developmental processes with other animals, especially mammals. |
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| the hollow sphere of cells into which the zygote arranges itself at around the 4th day of development. |
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| The bulge of cells on the inside of the blastocyst that eventually forms into the embryo |
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| Twins that result from the splitting in half of the inner cell mass at the zygote stage, which gives each zygote exactly the same genetic makeup. |
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| Twins that result when two eggs happen to be released into the fallopian tube at the same time and are fertilized by two different sperm. Fraternal twins share only half their genetic makeup. |
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| The process by which cells start to differentiate after the zygote implants into the uterine lining; the inner cell mass becomes the embryo, and the rest of the cells become its support system. |
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| The name given to the developing organism from the 3rd to 8th week of prenatal development. |
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| A U-shaped groove formed from the top layer of differentiated cells in the embryo that eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord. |
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| An organ with an extraordinarily rich network of blood vessels that permits the exchange of materials between the bloodstreams of the fetus and its mother while keeping the two circulatory systems separate. |
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| A tube that contains the blood vessels that travel from the placenta to the developing organism and back again. |
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| A membrane that is filled with a clear, watery fluid in which the fetus floats and that acts as a protective buffer for the fetus in several ways. |
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| Cephalocaudal development |
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| The pattern of growth in which areas near the head develop earlier than areas farther away from the head. |
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| A simple form of learning that is shown by a decrease in response to repeated or continued stimulation. |
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| environmental agents that have the potential to cause harm during prenatal development. The harm can range from easily correctible problems to death. |
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| The period of time during which a developing organism is most vulnerable to damage by outside agents. |
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| the fact that the greater the exposure to a potential teratogen the fetus receives, the more likely it is that a defect will occur and the more severe the defect is likely to be. |
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| Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) |
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| The effects of maternal alcoholism on a fetus, including facial deformity, varying degrees of mental retardation, attention problems, hyperactivity, and organ defects. |
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| SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) |
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| The unexpected death of an infant less than one year of age that has no identifiable cause. |
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| Refers to an infant's level of arousal and engagement in the environment, ranging from deep sleep to intense activity. State is an important mediator of young infants' experience of the world. |
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| An active sleep state that is associated with dreaming in adults and is characterized by quick, jerky eye movements under closed lids. |
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| A quiet or deep sleep state characterized by the absence of motor activity or eye movements and regular, slow brain waves, breathing, and heart rate. |
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| The idea that brain activity during REM sleep in the fetus and newborn makes up for natural deprivation of external stimuli and facilitates the early development of the visual system. |
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| A soothing technique, used in many cultures, which involves wrapping a baby tightly in clothes or a blanket, thereby restricting limb movement. |
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| Excessive crying for no apparent reason. |
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| A birth weight of less than 5.5 lbs (2,000 grams) |
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| Any child born at 35 weeks after conception or earlier, as opposed to the normal term of 38 weeks. |
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| Small for gestational age (SGA) |
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| Babies that weigh substantially less than is normal for whatever their gestational age. |
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| Successful developmental in the face of multiple and seemingly overwhelming developmental hazards. |
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