Chapter 5 Growth

Human Growth

Learning Outcomes:
describe what growth is,
identify the characteristics used to measure
growth rate,
analyse the growth curve for male and
female,
compare and contrast the growth rate in
male and female,
describe the effects of nutrition on the
growth in children.

Human growth

Process of change in size,

appearance and function in an
organism

Appearance
Appearance of a
person changes as
he/she grow

Size
Size increases from
infancy to adulthood

Changes
during growth
in humans
Cell function
Each cell with
different structures
performs a specific
function

Spiritual
development
Spiritual changes
occur at different
stages of growth

Growth curve in humans

Infancy
Rapid growth
Childhood
Slower but steady growth
Adolescence
Rapid growth during puberty
Adulthood
Growth lessens and stops
Old age
Negative growth

Comparison between males & females

Comparison
Infancy
Growth rate for a male = female
Childhood
Growth rate of male > female
Early Adolescent
Growth rate of female > male
Later Adolescent
Growth rate of male > female
Female starts & ends adolescence earlier
Male starts & ends his adolescence later

Nutrient

Importance

Proteins

Build new cells &

tissues

Carbohydrate & Fats

Provide energy

Calcium, Phosphorus
& Vitamin D

Building teeth & bones

Iron

Building red blood cell

Vitamins

Fight infections

Weight gain boy vs girl

Childhood

Infancy

Adolescence

Adulthood

 Apart from body weight, height can be used to measure

the rate of human growth.
State the period of the most rapid human development.
02 years
At which growth stage is the rate of increase in body
weight
(a) in boys and girls almost the same?
06 years
(b) faster in boys than in girls?
610 years and 14 years and above
(c) faster in girls than in boys?
1014 years

 Why are adult men taller than adult women?

The growth period in boys is longer than in girls.
Children are very active during adolescence.
Suggest one food class that they need to
consume in large quantities in their diet.
Carbohydrates/Fats

5.2 Discussion activity

1. (Proteins, Carbohydrates) are needed to supply
more energy to children.
2. (Fats, Proteins) are needed to build new tissues
in the body.
3. The formation of strong bone and teeth needs
(calcium, iodine).
4. Consuming too much food will lead to (obesity,
anaemia).
5. Deciency of protein in children will cause
(rickets, kwashiorkor).

1
Adolescence
Adulthood
Childhood

Infancy

Diagram 1

2
(a) The growth rate in females is same as that
in males at infancy stage.
(b) The growth rate in females is faster than in
males at adolescence stage.
(c) The growth rate in males is faster than
females at childhood stage.
(d) The rate of growth is the fastest at the
infancy stage.
(e) The rate of growth in adolescents is faster
than that in children.

1
Adolescence
Adulthood
Childhood

Infancy

1
(b) At which stage does a human being grow
the fastest?
K/Infancy
(c) At which stage does a human being grow
the slowest?
N/Adulthood
(d) At which stage does a female grow faster
than a male?
M/Adolescence

P: Infancy

Q: Childhood

R: Adolescence

S: Adulthood

(b) What is the best food for humans at stage P?

Mothers milk
(c) At which stage does a human reach puberty?
R/Adolescence
(d) Explain why children need carbohydrates in large quantities.
Children are very active