lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
NUR 5220 LECTURER NOTES WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ NEWLY
UPDATED 2025
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Growth and Development
• Two hypothalamic hormones control growth hormone synthesis and secretion in the
anterior pituitary gland
Growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates the pituitary to release
growth hormone
Somatostatin inhibits the secretion of both GHRH and thyroid-stimulating hormone
• Brain: peak fetus, early infancy
• Skeleton: peak fetus, infancy, adolescence
• Muscle: peak fetus, adolescence
• Adipose: peak infancy, adolescence
• Lymphoid: peak age 10 to 12 years
• Neural: peak age 4 to 14 years
• Genital: peak adolescence
• Fetus
Head growth predominates
• Infant
Trunk growth predominates
Weight gain at rapid but decelerating rate
• Child
Legs are fastest growing
Weight gained at steady rate
• Adolescence
Trunk and legs elongate.
50% of ideal weight is gained.
Of adults who are obese
30% become obese during childhood
70% become obese during adolescence
Skeletal mass and organ systems double in size.
• Pregnant Women
Progressive weight gain, fetus 6-8lbs is expected, rest of weigh is from maternal
tissue and fluids, weight gain is slow in 1st trimester, rapid in 2nd and slows in the 3rd
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
• Older adult
Stature declines beginning at 50 (thinning of discs, kyphosis)
Increase in overweight and obese older adults
Decrease in weight for height and BMI among those over 60
A loss of 5% of body weight over several years occurs accompanied with an
increase in body fat as skeletal muscle declines (due to decreased exercise and
reduced anabolic steroid secretion)
Reduction in the size and weight of organs (liver, lungs, kidneys)
Related History
History of present illness
Weight loss and weight gain
• Undesired weight loss, anorexia, vomiting or diarrhea, difficulty swallowing,
excessive thirst, frequent urination, change in lifestyle, activity and stress
levels
• Medications: chemotherapy, diuretics, insulin, fluoxetine, diet pills,
laxatives, steroids, oral contraceptives
Changes in body proportions
• Coarsening facial features, enlarging hands/feet, moon facies
• Change in fat distribution
• Medication: steroids
Past medical history
Chronic illness
• Gastrointestinal
• Renal
• Pulmonary
• Cardiac
• Cancer
• Human immunodeficiency virus or other infections
• Allergies
Previous weight loss or gain efforts
• Weight at 21
• Maximum body weight
Family history
Obesity
• Constitutionally short or tall stature
• Precocious or delayed puberty
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Genetic or metabolic disorder
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dwarfism
Personal and social history
Usual weight and height
Activity and exercise pattern
Use of alcohol
Use of illicit drugs
Infants
Estimated gestational age, birth weight, length, head circumference
Following an established percentile growth curve
Development: achieving milestones at appropriate ages
Congenital anomaly or chronic illness
Children and Adolescents
Sexual maturation of girls: early (before 7 years) or delayed (beyond 13 years); signs
of breast development and pubic hair, age at menarche
Sexual maturation of boys: early (before 9 years) or delayed (beyond 14 years);
signs of genital development and pubic hair
Short or tall stature
Medications: steroids, growth hormones
Pregnant Women
Pregnancy weight, dietary intake
Age at menarche
Date of last menstrual period, weight gain pattern, following established weight
gain curve for gestational course
Eating disorders
History of pica (eating laundry starch, ice, clay, raw rice)
Nausea and vomiting
• Older adults
Chronic debilitating illness
• Problems with meal preparation
• Difficulty feeding self, chewing, swallowing, poorly fitting dentures
• Ability to follow prescribed diet
• Difficulty with digestion
NUR 5220 LECTURER NOTES WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ NEWLY
UPDATED 2025
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Growth and Development
• Two hypothalamic hormones control growth hormone synthesis and secretion in the
anterior pituitary gland
Growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates the pituitary to release
growth hormone
Somatostatin inhibits the secretion of both GHRH and thyroid-stimulating hormone
• Brain: peak fetus, early infancy
• Skeleton: peak fetus, infancy, adolescence
• Muscle: peak fetus, adolescence
• Adipose: peak infancy, adolescence
• Lymphoid: peak age 10 to 12 years
• Neural: peak age 4 to 14 years
• Genital: peak adolescence
• Fetus
Head growth predominates
• Infant
Trunk growth predominates
Weight gain at rapid but decelerating rate
• Child
Legs are fastest growing
Weight gained at steady rate
• Adolescence
Trunk and legs elongate.
50% of ideal weight is gained.
Of adults who are obese
30% become obese during childhood
70% become obese during adolescence
Skeletal mass and organ systems double in size.
• Pregnant Women
Progressive weight gain, fetus 6-8lbs is expected, rest of weigh is from maternal
tissue and fluids, weight gain is slow in 1st trimester, rapid in 2nd and slows in the 3rd
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
• Older adult
Stature declines beginning at 50 (thinning of discs, kyphosis)
Increase in overweight and obese older adults
Decrease in weight for height and BMI among those over 60
A loss of 5% of body weight over several years occurs accompanied with an
increase in body fat as skeletal muscle declines (due to decreased exercise and
reduced anabolic steroid secretion)
Reduction in the size and weight of organs (liver, lungs, kidneys)
Related History
History of present illness
Weight loss and weight gain
• Undesired weight loss, anorexia, vomiting or diarrhea, difficulty swallowing,
excessive thirst, frequent urination, change in lifestyle, activity and stress
levels
• Medications: chemotherapy, diuretics, insulin, fluoxetine, diet pills,
laxatives, steroids, oral contraceptives
Changes in body proportions
• Coarsening facial features, enlarging hands/feet, moon facies
• Change in fat distribution
• Medication: steroids
Past medical history
Chronic illness
• Gastrointestinal
• Renal
• Pulmonary
• Cardiac
• Cancer
• Human immunodeficiency virus or other infections
• Allergies
Previous weight loss or gain efforts
• Weight at 21
• Maximum body weight
Family history
Obesity
• Constitutionally short or tall stature
• Precocious or delayed puberty
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Genetic or metabolic disorder
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dwarfism
Personal and social history
Usual weight and height
Activity and exercise pattern
Use of alcohol
Use of illicit drugs
Infants
Estimated gestational age, birth weight, length, head circumference
Following an established percentile growth curve
Development: achieving milestones at appropriate ages
Congenital anomaly or chronic illness
Children and Adolescents
Sexual maturation of girls: early (before 7 years) or delayed (beyond 13 years); signs
of breast development and pubic hair, age at menarche
Sexual maturation of boys: early (before 9 years) or delayed (beyond 14 years);
signs of genital development and pubic hair
Short or tall stature
Medications: steroids, growth hormones
Pregnant Women
Pregnancy weight, dietary intake
Age at menarche
Date of last menstrual period, weight gain pattern, following established weight
gain curve for gestational course
Eating disorders
History of pica (eating laundry starch, ice, clay, raw rice)
Nausea and vomiting
• Older adults
Chronic debilitating illness
• Problems with meal preparation
• Difficulty feeding self, chewing, swallowing, poorly fitting dentures
• Ability to follow prescribed diet
• Difficulty with digestion
