PSYB20H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Embryonic Disc, Prenatal Development
Document Summary
Fetal alcohol syndrome (fas) and fetal alcohol effects (fas/e) are clusters of abnormalities shown by children whose mothers drank during pregnancy, and are major causes of mental retardation. O(cid:374)(cid:272)e al(cid:272)ohol e(cid:374)ters a fetus"s bloodstream, it remains there in high concentrations for long periods of time, causing brain damage and harming other body organs. The fertilized egg begins a 9-month gestation period. The prenatal period of development, between conception and birth is called gestation. The normal range of gestation is between 37 weeks and 41 weeks. Prenatal development takes place in three stages; germinal, embryonic, and fetal. Before and after birth, development proceeds according to growth and motor development and occur from the top down and from the centre of the body outward. Cephalocaudal principle, principle that development proceeds in a head to tail direction; that is upper parts of the body develop before the lower parts of the trunk.
