Human growth and development occurs through four main stages: physical, mental, emotional, and social. There are various stages of human growth from prenatal to adulthood. Prenatal development begins at conception and involves cell division and formation of organs. Infancy is a time of rapid physical growth and development of motor skills. Childhood sees physical and cognitive development, with childhood divided into early, middle, and late stages. Adolescence involves puberty and separation of male and female characteristics. Adulthood is reached at around 18-20 years of age and involves physical maturity. Later adulthood sees a decline in physical abilities and increased risks of health issues.

1. Stages
of
Human
Growth

2. GROWTH
- increase in quantity
- multiplication of cells
- anatomical &
physiological changes
generally
refers to changes
in size

3. DEVELOPMENT
- increase in quality
- expansion of cells
- emergence of psychological attributes,
ideas, & acquisition of motor and
sensory skills
Occurs
through
maturation of
physical and
mental
capacities, and
learning

4. As individuals pass through the various stages of life,
FOUR MAIN TYPES of growth and development
occur :
PHYSICAL
MENTAL
EMOTIONAL
Refers to body growth;
includes height and
weight
changes,
muscle and nerve
development,
and
changes
in
body
organs.
Refers to development
of the mind; includes
learning how to solve
problems,
make
judgements and deal
with situations.
Refers to feelings;
includes dealing with
love, hate, joy, fear,
excitement,
and
other similar feelings.
SOCIAL
Refers to interactions and relationship with others.

5. STAGES OF GROWTH
I) PRENATAL STAGE
- Embryonic stage / 1st Trimester (conception - 8th week)
- Early Foetal stage / 2nd Trimester (9th - 24th week)
- Late Foetal stage / 3rd Trimester (25th week - birth)
~ TRANSITION PERIOD ~

6. II) POST-NATAL STAGE
- INFANCY
- Neo-natal stage (birth - 1st month)
- Infancy Proper (1st month – 1 year)
- Late Infancy (entire 2nd year)
- CHILDHOOD
- Early Childhood (2 – 6 years)
- Middle Childhood (7 – 10 years)
- Late Childhood (10th year - puberty)
- ADOLESCENCE (varies with gender)
- ADULTHOOD (F: 20 – 50 years; M: 22 – 60 years)
- SENESCENCE

7. PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT

9. CHANGES DURING GESTATION PERIOD

Cleavage – after fertilization, it is the first cell division
Implantation of ovum – growing zygote attaches to the mother's uterine; mother starts
giving nutrition to zygote; many fold of growth occur and growth of cells is very fast


Formation of germ layers

Formation of embryonic organs – limbs, heart

Foetal organ formation – development from one chamber heart to 4 chamber heart

Foetal development – every main part or organ
EARLY FOETAL STAGE
LATE FOETAL STAGE
- organs are distinguished
- increase in mass / weight
- increase in length of foetus (by the end
of 6th month, foetus attains 70% of its birth
length & 20% of its birth weight
- very less increase in linear dimension
(since 70% already attained)
- the most stable period
- the weight-gaining period, hence diet
of mother should be proper

12. Prenatal BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

13. INFANCY
- very fast changing phase
- rate of growth is very fast, but not as much as in Prenatal
stage
- a nutrition-dependent phase
- high velocity of growth declines after year 1
- nervous system develops faster
- birth weight and length increases (usually doubles weight
by 9 months)
- uncoordinated movements
- responds to human touch & voice
- poor vision (focusing range = 8 to 12 inches)
- Reflexes: sucking, grasping, stepping, rooting, startle

14. INFANCY – PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
3 months
Infants can sit with their head held steady for a few seconds, if supported
6 months
Infants have more strength and muscle control. They can lift their heads , sit without support, and turn their head
to look around.
They can pull themselves up when their hands are grasped
9 months
Infants can sit unsupported for ten minutes.
They are starting to move independently by rolling or squirming.
They can pull themselves to stand, and can stand holding onto soemthing for a few moments
12 months
Infants can get from a lying to a sitting position without help.
They crawl rapidly.
They can walk by holding onto furniture and stand alone for a few monments.
15 months
Infants can get on their feet alone.
They can walk and crawl upstairs.
18 months
Infants can run, walk upstairs and crawl downstairs .
2 years
Infants can walk downstairs.
3 years
Infants can climb on play equipment, ride a tricycle and throw and catch a ball.

15. Infancy – Brain Development

16. CHILDHOOD
EARLY CHILDHOOD (2 – 6 YEARS)
- rate of growth decreases or slows down;
growth is slowest by the 3rd year, but
stable and consistently increasing
- learning ability which was launched in the
1st year becomes faster as the child is
exposed to new environment
- all the psychomotor skills are enhancing;
muscle coordination allows the child to
run, climb, move freely
- speech is learned; child recognizes
letters and some words
- teeth erupt
- short attention span

17. MIDDLE CHILDHOOD (7-10 YEARS)
- most stable period of childhood
- all changes are consolidated
because of differential rate of growth
- by the 9th year, body proportion of
the growing child changes
- growth of brain is almost 95%
- replacement of milk teeth by
permanent teeth is almost complete,
with the exception of the 2nd molars.

18. LATE CHILDHOOD (10TH YEAR - PUBERTY)
- phase influenced by growth of sex
hormones
- development of reproductive system
and secondary sexual dimensions
occur
- linear growth under the influence of
these hormones / systems is fast
- there is a sudden increase in the
linear dimension, which is known as
ADOLESCENCE SPURT
- complex motor-sensory coordination
- understanding of abstract concepts,
enhanced reading, writing and speech
skills
- visual acuity is at its best

19. Stages of Childhood
Development
Piaget's Stages of Cognitive

20. ADOLESCENCE
- In this pubertal phase there is separation of body size, shape and form between
males and females
- Males have broader shoulders, more muscles, while females have narrow
shoulders, broad hips and more fat
- complete separation of physique; body is filled with subcutaneous fat
- onset of oogenesis and spermatogenesis
- change of voice is noticeable in males
- in females, MENARCHE follows within 6
weeks of spurt

21. Adolescence – Physical Development at Puberty

23. ADULTHOOD
- stage reached in 18 years in females, and
20 years in males
- period of child-bearing
age
- long bones stop growing; linear growth
stops; terminal stage for linear dimension
- bones and muscular
completed in this stage
development
MIDDLE ADULTHOOD / MIDDLE-AGE
(40-65 years)
- muscle tone decreases
- hair greys, skin wrinkles
- hearing loss, visual acuity loss
- weight gain

24. SENESCENCE
Or Late
Adulthood (65 years and above)
- also known as declining stage (negative growth)
- at the age of 60+ there is a decrease in stature because of
compression of vertebral disc
- memory loss can occur and reasoning ability can diminish
- mineralization increases; bones become brittle and more
susceptible to fracture
- decrease in functional ability
- teeth loosen
- decrease in water content
- immune system becomes weaker
- muscles deteriorate

25. SUMMARY

26. Individual Differences to take into Consideration
Rites of passage
Value system
Rituals
Religious
differences
Ethnic Features
Physical differences
Facial features
Skin tones
Cultural & Subcultural
Anomalies
Disabilities
Predisposition to
Personalities

27. ~ Bedashree Choudhury
B.Sc(H)
Anthropology
Part – III, Sem. - V
Thank
you