CHAPTER 5 : GROWTH

HUMAN GROWTH

1. Growth is a process of change in size, appearance and function in an organism.

2. Growth occurs because of an increase in the quantity of cells in an organism.

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3. Growth in humans occurs in the whole body. However, the rate of human growth is
different at different age levels.

4. Human growth is divided into four stages, i.e.:

(a) baby or infant stage
(b) child stage
(c) adolescent stage
(d) adult stage

Human growth from infancy to adulthood

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 Graph of human height according to age

5. From the graph in figure below, it can be concluded that:

(a) the rate of growth is very fast at the infant stage
(b) children experience slower growth rate
(c) the rate of growth in adolescents is faster than that in small children
(d) the rate of growth in adults is nearly zero, i.e. do not experience any change

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A. Growth in height and weight

1. Height and weight are used to measure the rate of human growth.

2. The rate of growth in males is different from that in females.

Graph showing the height and weight according to age for males and females

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3. The curves in the graph in figure below show the following:
(a) At infant stage (0 - 2 years)
- The growth rate in males is the same as that in females.
(b) At child stage (2 - 12 years)
- The growth rate in a male child is faster than that in a female child.
(c) At adolescent stage
(i) 12 - 14 years
- The growth rate in females is faster than that in males.
- This is because the female reaches puberty (12 years) earlier than the male (14
years).
- The female is taller than the male at early adolescent stage.

(ii) 14 - 20 years
- The male and the female will continue to experience growth for a few years
after reaching puberty.
- Physical growth in females will stop at age 17 years while in males at 18 years.

(d) At adult stage ( 20 years and above)

- The male will be taller than the female at the adult stage because the period of growth
in males is longer than that in females.

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Comparison between growth rate of males and females

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B. Effects of nutrition on the growth of children

1. Proper nutrition is necessary for healthy mental and physical growth in children.

2. Lack of nutrients in a child's diet results in stunted growth.

3. Children must get good and sufficient nutrition for growth. However, eating too much
results in obesity, tooth decay etc.

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