Deck 4: Infancy: Physical Development

Question 1

Myelin allows electrical messages to be conducted efficiently in the nervous system.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Infants with failure to thrive (FTT) are more likely to be described as voracious eaters.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Unlike physical development, motor development does not follow cephalocaudal and proximodistal patterns.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The first major growth spurt of the brain occurs during the fourth and fifth months after birth.

Question 5

When one-month-old neonates are given the opportunity to look at human faces, they tend to pay most attention to the eyes.

Question 6

Infants need more iron, pound for pound, than adults do.

Question 7

Axons receive impulses from other neurons.

Question 8

As they age, children become more passive in response to their environments.

Question 9

Generally speaking, breast milk is considered to be superior to infant formulas by most health professionals.

Question 10

The medulla refers to an area in the front part of the brain and is responsible for higher-level thinking and memory.

Question 11

A child's growth can return to its genetically predetermined course after exposure to environmental influences. This phenomenon is referred to as canalization.

Question 12

It is important to completely restrict infants' intake of fat and cholesterol.

Question 13

The most dramatic gains in height and weight occur during the first few months of life.

Question 14

The cerebrum is the part of the brain involved in coordination and balance.

Question 15

Infants usually double their birth weight in about five months and triple it by the first birthday.

Question 16

Cephalocaudal development proceeds from the head to the feet.

Question 17

The head develops more rapidly than the rest of the body during the embryonic stage.

Question 18

Neonates have highly developed peripheral vision.

Question 19

The cerebral cortex is only one-eighth of an inch thick.

Question 20

Infants have fewer connections among neurons than adults do.

Question 21

Which of the following is true of growth patterns in infants?

A) An infant's length increases by one-fifth of an inch to a full inch in less than 24 hours.
B) An infant grows constantly during the first year of life.
C) Growth during prenatal development is less dramatic than growth during infancy.
D) An infant's length increases by one centimeter to one-and-a-half centimeters in the first month of birth.

Question 22

Prenatal babies________.

A) grow faster than neonates
B) grow slower than neonates
C) grow slowly at first
D) rarely experience growth spurts

Question 23

Which of the following is true of growth in infancy?

A) Infants grow in spurts.
B) Infants grow constantly during the first year of life.
C) Growth during prenatal development is less dramatic than growth during infancy.
D) The growth rates of taller-than-average infants, as a group, always tend to speed up after the second year of life.

Question 24

The tendency of growth rates to return to normal after undergoing environmentally induced change is known as ______.

A) Cephelation
B) Instantiation
C) Resumption
D) Canalization

Question 25

Max is a seven-month-old baby who was abandoned at an orphanage. He does not get enough nutrition and has not put on any weight in the last few months. A medical worker examines Max and suspects that his condition is the result of inadequate care. Max is most likely to be diagnosed with _____.

A) multiple sclerosis
B) Alzheimer's disease
C) failure to thrive syndrome
D) Down syndrome

Question 26

Samantha, a three-year-old girl, showed stunted growth. She weighed only 22 pounds and was much shorter than most of her peers six months ago. She was treated for failure to thrive. She is now returning to her normal growth rate, and her weight is showing an increase. Which of the following phenomena does this scenario represent?

A) Canalization
B) Myelination
C) Differentiation
D) Habituation

Question 27

Compared to adults, the arms of neonates tend to be ___________.

A) of similar proportions to the legs
B) longer in proportion to the legs
C) shorter in proportion to the legs
D) of irregular proportion to the legs

Question 28

Regarding the growth patterns of infants, it seems to be the case that infants ________.

A) remain the same size for the first year of life.
B) remain the same size for 2 to 63 days.
C) grow more slowly neonates.
D) often do not grow much until the middle of their second year.

Question 29

Which of the following statements most accurately describes cephalocaudal development?

A) Infants can sit up before they can crawl and walk.
B) The cerebellum develops more rapidly than the brainstem.
C) Extremities such as fingers develop before limbs such as arms and legs.
D) Infants gain control over their torso before gaining control over their hips and arms.

Question 30

Which of the following factors is most closely associated with the development of more distinct, specific behaviors among children?

A) Cephalocaudal development
B) Proximodistal development
C) Mobility
D) Maturity

Question 31

Max, a two-year-old boy, suffered from jaundice for three months. During this period, he lost five pounds and his physical growth was not normal. After he recovered from his illness, he gained eight pounds and grew by two inches. Max's growth after his recovery from jaundice can be described as _____.

A) canalization
B) myelination
C) differentiation
D) habituation

Question 32

If a neonate's finger is pricked or burned, he or she may withdraw the finger and also thrash about, cry, and show general signs of distress. If a toddler's finger is pricked or burned, he or she shows distress and withdraws the finger, but is less likely to thrash about wildly. This scenario best exemplifies _____.

A) the Babinski reflex
B) an instance of regression
C) the Moro reflex
D) an instance of differentiation

Question 33

Feeding problems are a central feature of ________.

A) extra sex-linked chromosomes
B) excessive sleep during infancy
C) failure to thrive
D) a lack of communication between infants and parents

Question 34

Isabel is a 5-month-old girl. She has not gained any weight in the last month. She feeds and sleeps irregularly. She also cries frequently and becomes irritable whenever her mother picks her up. Isabel is most likely to be diagnosed with _____.

A) multiple sclerosis
B) Alzheimer's disease
C) failure to thrive syndrome
D) Down syndrome

Question 35

Hormones are used by the brain to ________.

A) regulate breathing and heartbeat
B) communicate information about pleasure and pain
C) regulate growth and development of the body
D) assist the lungs in providing the body with oxygen

Question 36

Which of the following statements is true of growth patterns in girls?

A) Girls reach about half their adult height by the age of 10 months.
B) Girls reach about half their adult height by the age of 18 months.
C) Girls reach about one-fourth their adult height by three years of age.
D) Girls reach about one-tenth their adult height by six years of age.

Question 37

As a group, taller-than-average infants tend experience ________.

A) an increase in their rate of growth during their second year
B) a reduction in their rate of growth during their second year
C) a plateauing of their rate of growth during their second year
D) inconsistencies in their rate of growth during their second year

Question 38

Biological factors are most closely involved in _______.

A) nonorganic failure to thrive
B) organic failure to thrive
C) inorganic failure to thrive
D) hyperorganic failure to thrive

Question 39

An adult's arms are nearly_______.

A) three times the length of the head.
B) five times the length of the head.
C) four times the length of the head.
D) six times the length of the head.

Question 40

Which of the following statements is true of growth patterns in boys?

A) Boys reach about half their adult height by two years of age.
B) Boys reach about one-third their adult height by five years of age.
C) Boys reach about one-fourth their adult height by four years of age.
D) Boys reach about one-tenth their adult height by three years of age.

Question 41

Which of the following is true of myelination?

A) It is complete at birth.
B) Myelination of the brain's prefrontal matter is completed during neonatal development.
C) The breakdown of myelin generally occurs in the first decade of life.
D) It is part of the maturation process that leads to the abilities to crawl and walk during the first year after birth.

Question 42

In the context of infant nutrition, infants _____.

A) need significantly less iron, pound for pound, than adults do
B) do not need iron content in their diet
C) need significantly more iron, pound for pound, than adults do
D) need iron depending on their gender, similar to adults

Question 43

In the context of feeding infants, infant formula is widely considered _______.

A) superior to cow's milk
B) inferior to cow's milk
C) inferior to solid foods
D) superior to breast milk

Question 44

The introduction of whole cow's milk to an infant_________.

A) should be delayed until the infant is nine to twelve months old.
B) should be delayed until the infant is two to three years old.
C) is recommended from the time of birth of the infant.
D) is recommended by about four to six months of age.

Question 45

Which of the following is true of neurons?

A) A neonate has lesser neurons than an adult.
B) A neonate's spinal cord contains more neurons than the brain.
C) As a child matures, axons in neurons shorten.
D) Infants are born with about 100 billion neurons, most of which are in the brain.

Question 46

Alzheimer's disease is associated with which factor in concerning neuronal functioning?

A) A shortening of axons
B) A breakdown of myelin
C) A lengthening of axons
D) A reduction in the number of dendrites

Question 47

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should be fed breast milk _________.

A) only for the first two weeks.
B) only for the first six months.
C) for at least four years.
D) for at least one year.

Question 48

The basic units of the nervous system are cells called _____.

A) ova
B) neurons
C) lymphocytes
D) neutrophils

Question 49

Which of the following foods should not be given to infants until at least the latter part of the first year?

A) Infant formula
B) Finger foods
C) Breast milk
D) Solid foods

Question 50

Which of the following statements is true of dendrites?

A) They extend trunk-like from the cell body in a neuron.
B) They are short fibers that constitute neurons.
C) They account for much of the difference in length in neurons.
D) They become shorter as a child develops.

Question 51

Messages are released from axon terminals in the form of chemicals called _____.

A) enzymes
B) neurotransmitters
C) amines
D) hormones

Question 52

The high fat content of a myelin sheath insulates a neuron from which components of the fluids that encase the nervous system?

A) Electrically charged atoms
B) Dangerous free radicals
C) Toxic cellular wastes
D) Excessive salt molecules

Question 53

Billy is a four-year-old boy. He has trouble walking and running like other children his age, and he sleeps through most of the day. He is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Billy's condition is the result of _____.

A) the abnormal lengths of the axons
B) a disruption in his myelin sheaths
C) the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21
D) a disruption in his rapid eye movement sleep

Question 54

Breastfeeding is considered impractical for many women in the United States because of _______.

A) the demands of their jobs
B) the pain caused by an infant's suckling
C) inconsistencies in the amount of breastmilk produced
D) the widespread availability of superior alternatives to breastmilk

Question 55

In the context of neurons, which of the following is a function of the myelin sheath?

A) It facilitates the entry of electrically charged atoms in the fluids that encase the nervous system into the neurons.
B) It prevents electrical messages from traveling down an axon.
C) It facilitates the creation of neurotransmitters.
D) It minimizes leakage of the electric current being carried along an axon.

Question 56

An individual develops intellectual disability because of a disorder called phenylketonuria. Which of the following occurrences is a cause of the intellectual disability in the individual?

A) The replacement of myelin by hard, fibrous tissue in the individual's neurons
B) The inhibition of normal myelin development in the individual's brain
C) Insulation of the neurons by myelin
D) Myelination of the prefrontal matter of the individual's brain

Question 57

In the context of introducing solid foods to an infant, which of the following is recommended?

A) Solid foods should not be introduced until about 12 to 15 months of age.
B) Solid foods should be introduced only when an infant is two to three years of age.
C) Solid foods should be given to an infant from birth.
D) Solid foods should not be introduced until about four to six months of age.

Question 58

Which of the following is a downside to breastfeeding?

A) An increased risk of early breast cancer and ovarian cancer in mothers
B) An increased risk of transmission of HIV to infants by infected mothers
C) An increased risk of childhood lymphoma in infants
D) The likelihood of infants developing serious cases of diarrhea

Question 59

Which of the following food types should infants be allowed to eat plenty of?

A) High-sugar foods.
B) High-fiber foods.
C) High-iron foods.
D) Fat and cholesterol.

Question 60

Why is it important to introduce new foods to infants one at a time?

A) Infant digestive systems cannot handle combinations of different foods.
B) Introducing foods one at a time helps to isolate possible food allergies.
C) Infants may develop an aversion to foods that are combined with other foods.
D) Infants may develop an unhealthy appetite for combined foods.

Question 61

Baby Bonita is eight months old. Which of the following motor activities is she most likely to be involved in?

A) Walking
B) Crawling
C) Standing up without support
D) Running

Question 62

Which of the following is true of the cerebellum?

A) It is located above the medulla.
B) It becomes increasingly wrinkled as a child develops.
C) It controls basic functions, such as heartbeat and respiration.
D) It is only one-eighth of a centimeter in length.

Question 63

The medulla_______.

A) connects the spinal cord to higher levels of the brain
B) lies above the cerebellum
C) is primarily responsible for controlling emotional arousal in humans
D) is primarily responsible for managing higher-level thinking in humans

Question 64

Which of the following is true of an infant's brain?

A) At birth, an infant's brain is fully developed.
B) An infant's brain reaches nearly 70 percent of its adult weight by the age of one year.
C) An infant's brain is not myelinated at birth.
D) Infants have lesser connections among neurons than adults do.

Question 65

Physical development is similar to motor development in that _______.

A) the latter follows cephalocaudal and proximodistal patterns and differentiation.
B) the latter begins after the neonatal stage.
C) the latter occurs independent of other factors such as environment or nutrition.
D) the latter follows the same patterns as sensory and perceptual development.

Question 66

Elsa is a one-year-old infant. Her mother notices that while playing in the garden, Elsa often picks up tiny insects and worms by making a tight fist. A few months before, she had only been able to pat the insects and not pick them up as they were so tiny. This is an example of _____.

A) a pincer grasp
B) canalization
C) an ulnar grasp
D) habituation

Question 67

Juan, a three-year-old baby, fell from his bed and ever since has had poor limb, and eye control. He also finds it difficult to hold his toys. Which part of Juan's brain is most likely to be damaged?

A) The medulla
B) The cerebellum
C) The cerebrum
D) The hypothalamus

Question 68

Which of the following is true of locomotive development in infants?

A) Most infants begin to crawl at about six months.
B) Crawling appears a month or so after creeping.
C) By about seven months, infants usually begin to sit up by themselves.
D) Most infants can remain in a standing position by holding on to something at the age of five months.

Question 69

Maggie, an infant, is holding a toy clumsily, using only her fingers and palm. This is an example of _____.

A) a pincer grasp
B) canalization
C) an ulnar grasp
D) habituation

Question 70

Infants can transfer objects back and forth between hands by the age of _____.

A) one to two months
B) four to six months
C) three to four days
D) two to three weeks

Question 71

Which of the following is true of the growth spurts of the brain?

A) The first major growth spurt of the brain occurs during the fourth and fifth months of prenatal development.
B) The first major growth spurt of the brain occurs between the 25th week of prenatal development and the end of the second year after birth.
C) The first growth spurt of the brain is due primarily to the proliferation of dendrites and axon terminals.
D) The second growth spurt of the brain is due to the formation of neurons.

Question 72

In the context of the ability of neonates to lift and hold their torsos and heads, which of the following is true?

A) They generally manage to hold their heads quite well; hence, supporting the head is not necessary.
B) They cannot move their heads on their own.
C) They can move their heads slightly to the side.
D) They can lift their heads and torsos for short periods of time when on their stomachs.

Question 73

Dennis is four months old. He holds his toys between his fingers and palm when he plays with them. He does not use his thumb even after his mother shows him how to hold something the right way. This is an example of _____.

A) an ulnar grasp
B) canalization
C) a pincer grasp
D) habituation

Question 74

Infants can hold objects in each hand and inspect them in turn by the age of _____.

A) two months
B) eleven months
C) four days
D) three weeks

Question 75

Samson is a seven-year-old boy. He always gets poor grades in school. His language teacher complains that he does not remember anything that she teaches and he speaks in an incoherent manner. If Samson's condition is caused by brain damage, which part of the brain is his physician most likely to check first?

A) The cerebellum
B) The medulla
C) The cerebrum
D) The auditory cortex

Question 76

Raymond, a one-year-old infant, loves playing with his rattle. He holds it in his hand by making a tight fist and shakes it vigorously. This is an example of _____.

A) a pincer grasp
B) canalization
C) an ulnar grasp
D) habituation

Question 77

Compared to infants' brains, adults' brains ______.

A) have fewer connections among neurons
B) comprise a significantly larger percentage of the body size.
C) completely comprise non-myelinated neurons.
D) have around 10 billion neurons.

Question 78

Stereotyped reflexes among neonates are primarily due to ________.

A) demyelination of motor pathways
B) increased connections to the medulla
C) increased cerebellum growth
D) myelination of motor pathways

Question 79

Baby Marla's brain cannot control her heartbeat and respiration. Which part of her brain is most likely damaged?

A) The medulla
B) The cerebellum
C) The cerebrum
D) The hypothalamus

Question 80

Which of the following actions require visual-motor coordination?

A) Voluntary reaching and grasping
B) Abstract reasoning
C) Habituation
D) Perceptual constancy