When a baby is born, its skull is not the solid single piece of bone it will become later in life. To allow the baby to pass through the birth canal, as well as to allow for additional brain growth, the skull is initially separated into several...
Pediatricians measure an infant's head growth, or head circumference, along with height and weight on a regular basis to determine if the rate is age and gender appropriate. Although head circumference varies with each infant, pediatricians...
Congenital malformations of the central nervous system result from abnormalities that occur during a fetus's growth and development in the womb. Chromosomal abnormalities, maternal illness and drug abuse can cause congenital abnormalities which...
As a fetus develops, the bones of the skull are flexible and sutures are not fused. This allows passage through the birth canal, which can cause flattening of the head. When a misshapen head needs correction, a baby might need to wear a cranial...
The thyroid produces a hormone called thyroxine, which affects every bodily system by signaling how fast or slow it should be working. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid produces too much of this protein. MedlinePlus, an online...
There are about 35,000 genes in the nucleus of human body cells. These genes are packaged into 23 pairs of chromosomes, numbered 1 through 22, with the 23rd pair being the sex chromosomes (X and Y). Each of the genes has a specific role in the...
Your baby's head size and head control give important clues to her health and development. Your baby's doctor will measure her head circumference from birth until 36 months and compare the results in relation to other babies on a growth chart....
Many different genetic conditions can affect the skeletal system. Mutations can occur in genes that influence the development of collagen, fibroblast growth factor receptors, lysosomal enzymes and other substances in the body. Some of these...
