Infant and Child Brain Growth and Development

Infant and child brain growth and development is one of critical period in development process. Infant and child brain is an organ that is still growing and growing. Infant and child’s brain will grow into big, bigger, and still growing from the original immature brain into the mature brain. The period for 2 weeks after conception (pre-embryos), egg cell division occurs. While at 2-8 weeks of gestation referred to as the embryo.

Early formation of the central nervous system or brain begins after 8 weeks of pregnancy. Brain growth and development begins with the formation of neural plate in the embryo, i.e. around day 16. Then roll up to form neural tube on day 22.

At week 5, its start looked embryo cerebrum at the end of the neural tube. Next it formed brain stem, cerebellum (small brain), and other parts. Brain development are complex and require a series of development processes, which occur on the addition (proliferation) of cells, movement (cell migration), changes (differentiation) cells, the formation of neural interwoven with each other (the synapse), and the formation of nerve sheath.

Nerve cells (neurons) in the beginning were a simple shape, having a lot of cleavage, and this process is called proliferation. This proliferation process lasts for 4-24 weeks of pregnancy, and finished at the time the baby is born. After the process of proliferation, nerve cells will migrate to where they belong. Migration process since the pregnancy lasted approximately 16 weeks until the end of the bull to 6 of gestation. This migration process occurs in waves, the nerve cells that migrate early to occupy the inner layer and then migrate and occupy the inner layer of migrating later occupy the outer layer of the cerebral cortex.

At the end of the month-6, cortical plate already contains components complete neural cells and had looked the differentiation into 6 layers like an adult. In the proper place, the nerve cells undergo a process of differentiation (change in shape, composition, and functions). Nerve cells into neuron cells and branches and supporting cells are formed (Glia cells). These cells govern our lives everyday.

Some say the addition of nerve cells has been completed at the time of birth. After the birth occurs only maturation of nerve cell function, but the nerves or myelin sheath called mielinisasi still growing.

However, after birth there are growth of the brain volume and weight. And, the baby looks more intelligent? This is because of the growth of nerve fibers, an increase in the number of glia cells, and outstanding mieliniasi process due to the stimulation process acquired at birth.

Explanations above shows the importance of prenatal and post-natal period in brain development. Therefore, if we want the next child has high quality brains, then needed attention really to the development of the brain, which should begin before a pregnant woman to prepare for pregnancy, during pregnancy and after birth until the infant and child brain growth and development process is complete.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 01:14 and is filed under Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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