WGU D202 HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT |ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2026
What is the embryonic period? - CORRECT ANSWER-Weeks 3-8 of pregnancy, formation of placenta and
brain development
What is the fetal period? - CORRECT ANSWER-From the end of the embryonic period until the end of
pregnancy, viability at 24 weeks
What influences sexual orientation? - CORRECT ANSWER-Genetics, birth order, hormones
What are some maternal factors that can affect fetal development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Age,
environmental teratogens, diabetes, high blood pressure, Rh factor, weight gain, stress, depression
What are some risks during pregnancy? - CORRECT ANSWER-Ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia,
spontaneous abortion
How many stages are there in labor for vaginal delivery? - CORRECT ANSWER-Three
What are the other types of delivery? - CORRECT ANSWER-Cesarean and induced
What is the APGAR score? - CORRECT ANSWER-Assessment of newborn's heart rate, muscle tone,
reflexes, etc.
What is NBAS? - CORRECT ANSWER-Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale used to assess newborns.
When does the postpartum phase begin and end? - CORRECT ANSWER-Begins after birth and ends when
mother's body returns to pre-pregnancy form.
,What are maternal worries in the postpartum phase? - CORRECT ANSWER-Mother's needs and changes
in taking on new responsibilities.
What is postpartum anxiety? - CORRECT ANSWER-Elevated sense of worry about the infant following
childbirth.
What is postpartum depression? - CORRECT ANSWER-Unusual sadness occurring after childbirth.
What is postpartum psychosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Serious mental illness affecting new mothers after
childbirth.
Why should new mothers seek medical assistance for postpartum anxiety? - CORRECT ANSWER-To
address elevated worries about the infant.
What is physical growth? - CORRECT ANSWER-Increase in body size and organ size in babies.
What does physical development aid in? - CORRECT ANSWER-Maintenance of healthy weight, strong
bones, muscles, and heart.
What is motor development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Physical growth and strengthening of bones and
muscles in children.
What do gross motor skills focus on? - CORRECT ANSWER-Large muscle groups controlling head, torso,
arms, and legs.
What is the cephalocaudal path of development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Development that proceeds from
head to tail.
What is the proximodistal path of development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Development that proceeds from
midline outward.
,What is sensory development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Processes used to take in information from the
environment.
How can sensory processes be affected? - CORRECT ANSWER-By the infant's developing motor abilities.
Why is nutrition important for health and development? - CORRECT ANSWER-It is related to improved
infant, child, and maternal health and stronger immune systems.
What is kwashiorkor? - CORRECT ANSWER-A disease caused by protein deficiency.
When does kwashiorkor often occur? - CORRECT ANSWER-After the birth of another sibling.
What are genes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Inherited building blocks that determine development.
What is mitosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Nucleus makes copy of chromosomes and splits into two cells.
What happens in meiosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Chromosomes duplicate and divide twice, resulting in
four cells.
What is genotype? - CORRECT ANSWER-Sum total of inherited genes.
What is phenotype? - CORRECT ANSWER-Features that are expressed.
What are dominant genes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Express themselves in phenotype.
What are recessive genes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Express themselves only when paired with similar gene.
What disorders are linked to genetics? - CORRECT ANSWER-Sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs disease,
Tourette's syndrome, fragile X syndrome, hemophilia.
, What is a chromosomal abnormality? - CORRECT ANSWER-Inheriting too many or too few
chromosomes.
What are teratogens? - CORRECT ANSWER-Environmental factors that can cause disorders in infants.
What are examples of teratogens? - CORRECT ANSWER-Smoking, binge drinking, mercury exposure,
rubella.
What is synaptogenesis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Rapid growth of synapses in the brain.
What is synaptic pruning? - CORRECT ANSWER-Elimination of unnecessary synapses.
What is neuroplasticity? - CORRECT ANSWER-Brain's ability to change and adapt.
Where does most neural activity occur in the infant brain? - CORRECT ANSWER-Cortex.
How many hemispheres does the brain cortex have? - CORRECT ANSWER-Two.
How many lobes are in each hemisphere of the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER-Four.
What are the folds separating the lobes called? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fissures.
What is the average amount of sleep for a newborn? - CORRECT ANSWER-Approximately 16.5 hours per
24-hour period.
What percentage of sleep time do newborns spend in the REM phase? - CORRECT ANSWER-Close to 50
percent.
What are the grasping and stepping reflexes eventually replaced by? - CORRECT ANSWER-More
voluntary behaviors.
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT |ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2026
What is the embryonic period? - CORRECT ANSWER-Weeks 3-8 of pregnancy, formation of placenta and
brain development
What is the fetal period? - CORRECT ANSWER-From the end of the embryonic period until the end of
pregnancy, viability at 24 weeks
What influences sexual orientation? - CORRECT ANSWER-Genetics, birth order, hormones
What are some maternal factors that can affect fetal development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Age,
environmental teratogens, diabetes, high blood pressure, Rh factor, weight gain, stress, depression
What are some risks during pregnancy? - CORRECT ANSWER-Ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia,
spontaneous abortion
How many stages are there in labor for vaginal delivery? - CORRECT ANSWER-Three
What are the other types of delivery? - CORRECT ANSWER-Cesarean and induced
What is the APGAR score? - CORRECT ANSWER-Assessment of newborn's heart rate, muscle tone,
reflexes, etc.
What is NBAS? - CORRECT ANSWER-Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale used to assess newborns.
When does the postpartum phase begin and end? - CORRECT ANSWER-Begins after birth and ends when
mother's body returns to pre-pregnancy form.
,What are maternal worries in the postpartum phase? - CORRECT ANSWER-Mother's needs and changes
in taking on new responsibilities.
What is postpartum anxiety? - CORRECT ANSWER-Elevated sense of worry about the infant following
childbirth.
What is postpartum depression? - CORRECT ANSWER-Unusual sadness occurring after childbirth.
What is postpartum psychosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Serious mental illness affecting new mothers after
childbirth.
Why should new mothers seek medical assistance for postpartum anxiety? - CORRECT ANSWER-To
address elevated worries about the infant.
What is physical growth? - CORRECT ANSWER-Increase in body size and organ size in babies.
What does physical development aid in? - CORRECT ANSWER-Maintenance of healthy weight, strong
bones, muscles, and heart.
What is motor development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Physical growth and strengthening of bones and
muscles in children.
What do gross motor skills focus on? - CORRECT ANSWER-Large muscle groups controlling head, torso,
arms, and legs.
What is the cephalocaudal path of development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Development that proceeds from
head to tail.
What is the proximodistal path of development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Development that proceeds from
midline outward.
,What is sensory development? - CORRECT ANSWER-Processes used to take in information from the
environment.
How can sensory processes be affected? - CORRECT ANSWER-By the infant's developing motor abilities.
Why is nutrition important for health and development? - CORRECT ANSWER-It is related to improved
infant, child, and maternal health and stronger immune systems.
What is kwashiorkor? - CORRECT ANSWER-A disease caused by protein deficiency.
When does kwashiorkor often occur? - CORRECT ANSWER-After the birth of another sibling.
What are genes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Inherited building blocks that determine development.
What is mitosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Nucleus makes copy of chromosomes and splits into two cells.
What happens in meiosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Chromosomes duplicate and divide twice, resulting in
four cells.
What is genotype? - CORRECT ANSWER-Sum total of inherited genes.
What is phenotype? - CORRECT ANSWER-Features that are expressed.
What are dominant genes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Express themselves in phenotype.
What are recessive genes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Express themselves only when paired with similar gene.
What disorders are linked to genetics? - CORRECT ANSWER-Sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs disease,
Tourette's syndrome, fragile X syndrome, hemophilia.
, What is a chromosomal abnormality? - CORRECT ANSWER-Inheriting too many or too few
chromosomes.
What are teratogens? - CORRECT ANSWER-Environmental factors that can cause disorders in infants.
What are examples of teratogens? - CORRECT ANSWER-Smoking, binge drinking, mercury exposure,
rubella.
What is synaptogenesis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Rapid growth of synapses in the brain.
What is synaptic pruning? - CORRECT ANSWER-Elimination of unnecessary synapses.
What is neuroplasticity? - CORRECT ANSWER-Brain's ability to change and adapt.
Where does most neural activity occur in the infant brain? - CORRECT ANSWER-Cortex.
How many hemispheres does the brain cortex have? - CORRECT ANSWER-Two.
How many lobes are in each hemisphere of the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER-Four.
What are the folds separating the lobes called? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fissures.
What is the average amount of sleep for a newborn? - CORRECT ANSWER-Approximately 16.5 hours per
24-hour period.
What percentage of sleep time do newborns spend in the REM phase? - CORRECT ANSWER-Close to 50
percent.
What are the grasping and stepping reflexes eventually replaced by? - CORRECT ANSWER-More
voluntary behaviors.
