Prenatal Development

Growing fetus Reflexes Senses

By Amal Farhana Adenan
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Prenatal Development
The beginning of life

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Prenatal Development
The period of the embryo

28 days
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36 days
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Prenatal Development
The period of the embryo

48 days
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54 days
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Prenatal Development
The period of the fetus

Eleventh Week
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Prenatal Development
Fetus 24 weeks

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 Fetus 8 months

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Prenatal Development

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Reflexes
First responses

5 weeks after conception

Upper lip touch = withdrawal response Sensitivity has spread to palms and soles of feet Sensitivity has spread to whole body

Few days later

Before 9 weeks

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Reflexes
9 weeks in utero

Withdrawal reactions lessen Primitive reflexes appear Neural development determines timing
Appearance Inhibition

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Reflexes

Primitive Reflexes

Insure protection outside the womb Automatic, stereotyped movements directed from the brain stem No cortex involvement

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Reflexes
Primitive Reflexes

Essential for survival in first 2 weeks of life Lay foundation for all later functioning If remain after 6 12 months = brain development weaknesses or immaturity

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Reflexes
Primitive Reflexes brain stem dominated
Rooting Reflex searching sucking and swallowing

Moro or Startle Reflex response to outside stimuli

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Reflexes
Primitive Reflexes
Asymmetrical Tonic muscle tone, vestibular awareness Palmar grasp reflex

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Reflexes

Postural Reflexes

Form the framework for effective operation of other systems

Posture Movement Stability

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Reflexes
Postural Reflexes - rolling
Neck Righting Reaction

Labyrinth Righting Reaction

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Brain Development
Connections grow through nature and nurture

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Brain Development
Heredity and experiences increase connections

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Brain Development
Electrical activity increases with brain growth gained through experience

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Brain Development
As the body grows the brain grows

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Brain Development
The lower brain attention and mood

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The Senses
Touch begins in utero

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The Senses
Vestibular balance and awareness in space

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The Senses
Hearing begins in utero and strongly connects to neonatal life

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The Senses
Taste begins to connect at birth

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The Senses
Vision is the last sense to complete its journey In time, sharing occurs

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The Senses
Vision connects with language and perception

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The Senses
Language needs receiving and sending

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After Birth
Attention and mood govern development Each of the brain lobes grows separately.

Connections begin to reach to other lobes

The childs brain grows in awareness and flexibility
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