PSYC 2250 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Prenatal Development, Fetus, Teratology

• School: University of Manitoba
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2250
• Professor: Steven Hladkyj

Document Summary

Development of nervous system is followed by internal structures then external structures. 2 months to birth final and longest phase of prenatal development, the period of the fetus. Organs, muscles and nervous system organizes and become connected. Vernix skin thickens and is covered with a thick, greasy substance called vernix, which protects fetus during its long bath in amniotic fluid. Fetus responds to sounds at 25th week and discriminates familiar and unfamiliar sounds by 32nd or 33rd week. Neurons begin to develop in the embryonic stage. Growth of dendrites are sensitive to prenatal environment. 6 weeks prenatal develop sex hormones or secreted. Females have faster bone development and are ahead of boys by 4 to 6 weeks at time of birth. Boys tend to be heavier and longer with muscle and less fat than girls. Males are more vulnerable to congenital problems, teratogens, have higher rates of injury.