Growth

GROWTH

 Growth

is the permanent and irreversible change in shape, and increase in mass and size acquired by an organism in the course of its development Measuring growth rate - Height, weight, length

Growth pattern in human  If

the measurement of height or weight are plotted against time, a growth curve is obtained  Human life cycle can be divided into 5 stages : 1. infancy 2. childhood 3. adolescene

boy

girl Height (cm)

Age (years)

4. adulthood 5. senescence Infancy –the first two years of life - Childhood – period of growth and development - Adolescence – stage where a person passes from childhood to a sexually mature adult -

 As

we grow our body’s proportions change  Head of a newborn baby is one quarter of the total body length  Head of an adult is only one eight of the body length

Growth curves for males and females  Puberty

begins earlier in female  Puberty is the stage of early adolescence when the secondary sex characteristics become noticeable and the sexual organs become functional

 The

growth rate of males is higher  Human reach the peak of physical potential at adolescence and early adulthood  After the age of 40 our body begins structural change and gradual loss of efficiency in body function – senescence / aging

Effect of nutrition on growth - Nutrients are chemical substances which organisms needs for releasing energy, for warmth, growth and repair to carry out life process - Protein : - growth - body building

- repair damaged tissues  Carbohydrates,

fat - provides energy  Vitamin – For good health

 Minerals

- essential substances which are required to regulate the metabolism of the body - for healthy growth or organisms  Diet – all the food we eat  Balanced diet – a diet containing the right amounts of all the groups of food substances

 The

amounts of different kinds of food required is dependent on : - age - sex - physical activities - occupation