Human Growth and Development تقـديـم يقول الله سبحانه وتعالى في سورة المؤمنون:(آية 12- 14)   "وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ * ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ * ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ" ويقول أيضاً في سورة غافر(آية 67): "هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوا أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا شُيُوخًا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّى مِن قَبْلُ وَلِتَبْلُغُوا أَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ"

لقد وضح القرآن الكريم بشكل صريح مراحل خلق الإنسان ومراحل النمو والتطور التي يمر بها في رحلته العمرية من مهده إلى لحده. وإن ظاهرة النمو والتطور في السلوك الإنساني هذه ليست بعيدة عن الملاحظة العادية، فالصغير والكبير ورجل الشارع والمتخصص والأم والأب وغيرهم يدركون جميعاً ومن قديم الأزل أن الإنسان لا يتغير فقط في حجمه ووزنه وطوله وعرضه منذ أن يولد على الأرض؛ بل ينمو ويتطور أيضاً في فهمه وإدراكه وقدرته على التكيف والتوافق، وما يمكن أن يقوم به من أعباء ومسؤوليات ومهارات وغير ذلك. وليس هذا بغريب على الطبيعة الإنسانية؛ فالإنسان يمتاز عن بقية المملكة الحيوانية بصفات أساسية تجعل من نمو سلوكه وتطوره خاصية لازمة لذلك السلوك؛ فهو يمتاز بأنه ناطق وبأنه اجتماعي وفي هذا ما يشكل الأساس الذي يجعل من سلوكه ظاهرة نامية متطورة.

والواقع أن ظاهرة النمو في السلوك الإنساني إلى جانب أنها ظاهرة عامة، فإنها ظاهرة معقدة أشد التعقيد؛ ذلك أن لها جوانب متعددة متداخلة من الصعب فصلها، ليس فقط عن بعضها البعض، بل أيضاً عن العوامل المختلفة المسئولة عنها.   ومن هذا المنطلق تم التركيز في هذا المساق على دراسة مراحل النمو والتطور الإنساني منذ لحظة الإخصاب، مع التركيز على العوامل التي تؤثر في ذلك وتوضيح واجبات النمو لكل مرحلة من المراحل التي يمر بها الإنسان. وهناك الكثير من الأسئلة التي يعنى بها علم النمو والتطور والتي يسعى للإجابة عنها ومنها على سبيل المثال: كيف يتطور النمو العقلي بحيث يصبح الفرد قادراً على استيعاب أعقد النظريات العلمية بعد أن كان في طفولته الأولى لا يستطيع أن يميز بين اللهب واللعبة؟ ما هي المراحل التي يمر بها النمو اللغوي؟ متى يبدأ التفكير المنطقي عند الأطفال؟ متى يستطيع الطفل أن يمشي دون مساعدة؟ ما الذي يحدد قدرة الفرد على النمو بشكل عام، هل البيئة أم الوراثة أم هما معاً؟ وكيف يتم هذا التحديد ؟ وهل لعملية التنشئة الاجتماعية تأثير في ذلك؟

وباختصار فإن علم النمو والتطور يدرس ظاهرة نمو السلوك من جوانبها المختلفة: العقلية والانفعالية والحركية والاجتماعية. كما أنه يدرس هذه الظاهرة في علاقتها بالمتغيرات الأخرى كالتكوين البيولوجي والعوامل الوراثية والعوامل البيئية، وذلك حتى يكتشف العلاقات الوظيفية بين هذه الظاهرة من ناحية وبين المتغيرات المسئولة عنها من ناحية أخرى.  

Introduction The process of human growth and development is a complex phenomenon. It is under the control of both genetic and environmental influences, which operate in such a way that, at specific times during the period of growth, one or the other may be the dominant influence. The concepts of growth and development are fundamental to the practice of nurses. Throughout the period of child development, major milestones are accomplished. For each of these developmental periods, important aspects of care involving areas of nutrition, language, safety, and discipline must be addressed. Special areas of condemns involving communication, pain perception, and medication administration are essential for providing care for both mother and child.

Definitions Growth: an increase in number and size of cells as they divide and synthesize new protein result in increased size of the whole or any of its part. Development: Gradual maturation of organs and its functioning systems, maturation start from lower to more advanced stages of complexity. Growth is an essential feature of a child and this distinguishes him or her from an adult. The process of growth starts from the time of conception of the fertilized ovum and continues until the child grows into a fully mature adult. The two terms growth and development are often used together, they are not interchangeable because they represent two different aspects of dynamic of change, those of quantity and quality. Growth and development usually proceed concurrently; but not always interrelate.

Determinants of growth Genetic Influences: This refers to factors those are responsible for the characteristic and patterns of individual growth, certain anomalies and some of the familial diseases. Phenotype: tall parents have tall children; the size of head is more closely related to that of parents than the size and shape of hand and feet. Race: growth potential of children of different racial groups is variable. Sex: puberty growth spot occurs earlier in girls but at full maturity their mean height and weight is less. Hormonal factors: pituitary growth Hormone (GH) is directly related to growth. Genetic disorders: growth and development are adversely affected by certain genetic disorders on two types: Chromosomal abnormalities: several chromosomal defects manifested in sever growth disturbances as turner syndrome "45 chromosomes that one X chromosome is missed" or down syndrome "47 chromosome with trisomy 21". Gene mutation: result in inherited disorder of growth i.e. Classic galactosemial (a genetic condition in which the body can't process a simple sugar called galactose caused by deficiency in the enzyme galactose -1-phosphate uridylyltransferase)  

Environmental Influences Nutrition Fetuses those are belonged to undernourished and anemic mothers are usually small that the average infant birth weight born to mothers receiving nutrition supplement during pregnancy is higher than those of infant of malnourished mothers. Optimal maternal nutrition cause obesity accelerated somatic fetal growth while under nourished baby suffer from sever growth retardation.

Chemical agents Pregnant woman who receive some drugs as thalidomide during the first trimester affect in differentiation of organs which are developing at that period thus resulting in birth defects, androgen hormones initially accelerate the skeletal growth but epiphyses of bones close prematurely so bone growth stop early result of born of infant shorter than normal. Trauma Head injury may lead to brain damage. Fracture of the end of bone may damage the growing end thus retarded the skeletal growth.

Infections Maternal infection as TORCH infection leads to congenital malformation of the fetus and the children growth retarded. Also infections and parasitic disease in children reduce the velocity of growth.

Social influences Socioeconomic level Children of families with high socioeconomic level have better nutrition and hygienic condition so there is less infection and may have more security and emotional stability and so they have the chance to grow better than those of low socio economic status families.

Natural resources Abundant natural resources stimuli industrial and agricultural activity in the country, the raise in gross material product and per capita, income reflected in better nutrition and education of children in the community and so accelerate growth and development of children of those communities

Climate The velocity of growth may vary in different season and usually lighter in spring and low in summer. Infection and parasitic infestations are common in hot hand humid climate. On the other hand, climates have a significant effect on agriculture productivity, availability of food and capacity for hand work of people. Cultural factors Methods of child rearing and infant feeding in the community are determined by cultural practices and tradition which influence the nutritional status and growth of the children.  

Parents and family Parental have an influence affects in the growth and development of their children in extreme manner as the next: Maternal age at infant birth. Health status of die mother in pre and post- natal period. Number of the family members and socioeconomic status. Education of the parents and their temperaments. Play and learning of the children in the family and community that learning and development are connect together as oxygen and hydrogen in water.

Important of study of growth and development Public health screening Assessment of growth and development is the most powerful tool for early identification of children who may not look obviously sick but who never less has suboptimal health and nutrition or is suffering from latent illness. Remedial measures undertake at this point of time are much more useful for prevention of diseases and promotion of their health.

Indicator of general health and nutrition of the community Pooled data of growth and development of children in the community is an indirect indicator of health and nutrition status of the entire community, when it is compared with similar data collected simultaneously from other population subgroup.  

Evaluation of social action Effectiveness of medical or social measure for promotion health of the community can be evaluated by comparing the growth data before and after the remedial action is taken.

Clinical aspects or practice Development history helps in determining retrospectively the time of onset of many diseases which are likely to affect the process of growth. Response to treatment in a sick child may be documented by observing its effect on the subsequent growth experiences of child. Laws of growth and development There are definite and predictable pattern in growth and development that are continues, orderly and progressive. These patterns which referred also as trends or principles are universal and basic to all human beings that discussed as the next:

Directional trends Growth and development proceed in regular related directions and reflect to the physical development and maturation of neuromuscular functions according to the following directions: Cephalocuodale: head to tail direction that the head develops before the extremities that the children can control head before controlling of trunk and extremities, hold their back erect before the stand and use their eyes before hands

Proximal to distal trend: Direction of development start from midline to peripheral that children control shoulder before mastery of their hand and control hand before fingers. Mass to specific: differentiation trend describe development from smile operation to complex activities and functions from global to specific behavior.

Sequential trends: In all dimensions of growth and development there is definite predictable sequence with each child normally passing through every stage. Infant creeps before stand and stands before walk. Infant babbles before form wards that finally forming sentence.  

Growth pattern of every individual is unique The growth and development of every child is individualized but the general pattern of growth and development is predictable. Infant grow and develop at different rate Different infant's tissue and organs are growing and mature at different rate during life span i.e. growth of male and female gonads begins to mature in the late childhood.