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Brain Cells in Embryos, Fetus, Infants, Young Children

There is a four-years period of potential growth, lasting from conception until around the third birthday which is the most critical period for human development (Porter, 2003). Maria Montessori called thisLa mente del bambino or the time of the absorbent mind. The brain is composed basically of two types of cells - the neurons which are the nerve cells, and the glial cells, which are the supportive cells. Information is integrated in the cell bodies of the neurons, and travels as an electrochemical impulse along the axon, where the cell processes known as dendrites synapse with another nerve cell or an effector cell, e.g. a muscle or gland cell. At the synapse, neurotransmitters (neurochemicals) may diffuse across the synaptic cleft and information is communicated to the next cell in the chain. Some of the neurochemical is broken down by enzymes in the synapses, and some is taken up again by the cells which released it, and these mechanisms limit the nerve action.

Glial cells give support to the neurons, help degrade dead neurons, and oligodendroglial cells produce the myelin which insulates most nerve fibers to improve conductivity.

Brain waves have been recorded from human embryos as young as 40 days after fertilization (Human, 2004). Human embryos at five weeks gestational age can move away from an object touching the mouth area, and a British study found that the embryoÆs movements begin at the same time as sensory nerves begin to grow into the spinal cord in the second month of gestation. The nerve fibers respond to touch to the skin and movement of the limbs at this stage. At nine weeks, the fetus can curl its finger round an object, curl its toes in response to touching the foot, and by 12 weeks can close its fingers and thumb and open its mouth in response to pressure: the fetus has developed an almost complete range of responses to touch by 12 weeks.

Brain cells are present in the fetus by 10 weeks, and ...

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Brain Cells in Embryos, Fetus, Infants, Young Children. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 07:47, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1701858.html