The following is a lifespan assessment on Jamey Jones, an African American male baby.
Prenatal development
Prenatal development entails the growth phase between conception and birth. It is made of three phases, and these are the germinal, embryonic and fetal stages. In each of these stages, the child undergoes numerous physical, cognitive and physiological processes.
Germinal stage (fertilization to two weeks): in this stage, the zygote, a cell created by the fertilization of the ovum by the sperm undergoes cell division. The blastocyst, which is the fertilized egg multiplies to 32 cells by day three, and by the end of the week, the cells are between 100 and 150 (Feldman, 2014 p. 81). Cell division is accompanied by cell specialization, whereas some cells form the placenta and the umbilical cord.
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Embryonic stage (2-8 weeks): the embryonic stage involves the development of the embryo to three layers, the ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. The ectoderm is the foundation for the formation of eyes, hair, teeth, hands and legs, sensory organs, the spinal cord and the brain. The endoderm forms the respiratory system, digestive system, liver and pancreas. The mesoderm forms the skeletal system, muscles, blood and the circulatory. Towards the second month, the nervous system is formed, as about 100,000 neurons are produced every minute (Feldman, 2014 p. 81-82). By the fifth week, there is a slight function of the brain and the nervous system.
Fetal stage (8 weeks to birth): this stage is characterized by rapid development and changes of the fetus. The fetus exhibits an increase in weight from 4 ounces at four months, to three pounds and seven months, and approximately seven pounds at birth, and 20 times increase in length. Organ differentiation is also evidence, as most organs resume functions such as swallowing and urinating. Connection of organs such as arms and legs become complex and integrated. By four months, the fetus starts moving in the uterus, and afterwards kicking, turning, somersaulting and clenching among other movements. Brain development is rapid at the two hemispheres of the brain, while neural activity increases as neurons get coated with myelin. Gender differentiation occurs between the eight and twenty-fourth week, depending on the hormone released. Genetic characteristics also set in to create individual differences in the fetus during the pregnancy and upon birth.
Reference
Feldman R. S. (2014). Child Development: A Topical Approach . Pearson Education, Inc.
