CHYS 2P10 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Synaptogenesis, Body Proportions, Myelin
24 Nov 2012
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Document Summary
The brain is growing the fastest between birth and the age two. If we grew at this rate forever we would be 4 meters tall and 3 tons by the age of 18. Changes in body proportions- cephalocaudal physical development. From head to tail, hence the reproductive system grows last. Hands and feet are the first things to finish fully growing. In the last few years we have seen how much environment affects brain development. After 40 days the spinal chord starts to develop and the brain and the spinal chord make up the human nervous system. Nervous system = more than a trillion specialized cells: cells that work together to transmit electrical and chemical signal throughout the body. Proceeds in overlapping steps: 1. make brain cells via cell division (mitosis, 2. get the cells to where they need to be (migration) Complex environment is extremely important for young children. This is why full day kindergarten is being enforced.
