R dhaker...1

By:- Rahul Dhaker

M.Sc. Nursing 1st

year

HCN, Dehradun

Principle of

growth and development

Introduction

• The process of growth and development starts

before the baby born i.e. from the conceptions

in the mother’s womb.

• The period extends throughout the life cycle.

• But the principle change occurs from the

conception to the end of adolescent. Growth

and development are closely interrelated1.

Definition

Growth

• It is the process of

physical maturation

resulting an increase

in the size of the

body and various

organs. It occurs by

multiplication of

cells and an increase

in intracellular

substance3.

Development

• It is the process of

functional and

physical maturation

of the individual. It is

progress increase in

skill and capacity to

function. It is related

to maturation and

myelination of the

nervous system3.

Principle of Growth and Development

• Growth and development is continuous and orderly

process with individual difference and is unique to

each child.

• It process by stages and its sequence is predictable

and same in all children but there may be difference

in time of achievement1.

Cont….

• Cephalocaudal direction

• Proximodistal direction

• General to specific

• Development pace

• Environmental factor

Cephalocaudal direction

• Growth process from the

head to tail, or in a

cephalocaudal direction.

• This is particularly evidence

during the period of

gestation and the first year

of life.

• Before birth the head end of

the embryo and fetus

enlarge and develops before

the tail end does.

Proximodistal direction

• Growth proceeds from the center, or midline, of the body to the periphery, or in a proximodistal direction.

• This proximodistal development is bilateral and symmetric, for the most part, on both side of the body; however, this is not consistently true.

General to specific

• Initial mass activity and

movement are replaced by

specific response or action

by the complex process of

individual change.

• Generalized muscle occurs

before fine muscle control

is possible.

• At first, infant can only

make only random

movement of the arms

Development pace

• Rate of growth and development is interrelation

and rapid in infancy and in puberty but slow in

preschool and school age.

Environmental factor

• Growth and development depends on combination

of many interdependent factors especially by

heredity and environment.

Conclusion

• The period of growth and development extends

throughout the life cycle; however, the period in

which the principle change occurs is from

conception to the end of adolescence. Growth

and development are continuous and or derly

processes that have predictable sequences2.

Bibliography

1. Marlow, Text book of pediatric nursing, 6th

edition 2006, Saurabh printed pvt. Ltd. Nodia, page no- 163-170.

2. Wong’s, Essential of pediatric nursing, 8th edition 2009, Elsevier, first floor, Nodia (U.P.), page no-72-80

3. Parul Datta, Pediatric nursing, 2nd edition 2009, jaypee brothers medical publication (P) ltd. New Delhi, page no- 115- 120.