Descriptionary

leptin produced by the fat cells, a hormone that regulates appetite, energy intake, and metabolism.

luteinizing hormone produced by the pituitary, a hormone that triggers ovulation and the production of testosterone.

orexin a hormone that stimulates food cravings and the desire to eat. It is also involved in maintaining wakefulness.

oxytocin a hormone that triggers the release of milk in the breast.

parathyroid hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands, a hormone that metabolizes calcium and phosphates throughout the body.

precocious puberty premature development of sexual characteristics, such as pubic hair, breasts, and enlarged genitals, experienced by preteens more commonly now than in years past due to hormonal abnormalities. Experts cite a wide range of possi­ble causes, including increasing obesity rates, stress, exposure to chemicals, brain disorders, tumors, cysts, and infections.

progesterone a hormone that aids in regulating menstruation, pregnancy, and embryo development.

prolactin made by the pituitary and the breast, a hormone involved in keeping the breast full of breast milk during breast-feeding.

steroid any hormone involved in sexual, reproduc­tive, and muscular development. They may also be central to metabolism and immune function. They include estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and cor- tisol. See anabolic steroid.

thyroid hormone can refer to either thyroxine or triiodothyronine, which regulate metabolism, bone growth, protein synthesis, and the generation of body heat.

xenoestrogen any substance with estrogen-like effects, such as soy and some food additives. They are known to reduce sperm counts and increase breast cancer risk.

infants and babies

babble baby talk. bassinet a baby bed. bathinette a baby bathtub. booties knitted shoes or boots. carriage a stroller or baby buggy. coddle to baby and spoil.

colic occurring from the age of two weeks to about four months, any unexplained distress, crying, or screaming from an otherwise healthy infant, possibly due to trapped gas in the abdomen.

coo to talk softly and lovingly to a baby.

cradle a rocking or swinging baby bed.

cradle cap a form of infant dermatitis, character­ized by a yellowish, greasy crust on the scalp, and often appearing within the first three months. Also known as milk crust.

crow a contented, happy cry.

dandle to bounce a baby on one's knee or swing in one's arms.

diaper rash skin irritation caused by wet diaper.

incubator an environmentally controlled enclosure used to aid in the development of premature infants and to help prevent infection.

infanticide the murder of an infant.

fontanelle the soft spot on a baby's head, which slowly hardens after birth.

Moro reflex a normal startle reflex found in infants, characterized by spreading out and unspreading of the arms, along with crying, the absence of which may indicate motor or neurological damage.

octuplets eight siblings born at the same time.

pacifier a ring and a pliable nipple, which simulates the mother's nipple, that the baby sucks on to soothe itself.

papoose a Native American baby or baby carrier.

pule whining and whimpering.

quadruplets four siblings born at the same time.

quintuplets five siblings born at the same time.

septuplets seven siblings born at the same time.

sextuplets six siblings born at the same time.

squall a very loud cry.

stillborn a baby who is born dead.

teething the eruption and first appearance of an infant's teeth.

teething ring a pliable ring on which an infant chews to help relieve pain from teething.

test tube baby a baby conceived by in vitro fertil­ization.

toddling baby walking.

wean to gradually stop breast-feeding an infant.

wet nurse a woman hired to breast-feed the baby of a mother who is unable or does not wish to.

whimper to cry weakly.

witch's milk milk secreted from the nipples of some newborn infants, for up to three months, and believed to be caused by the influence of the mother's hor­mones. In folklore, it was thought to be used as food by the animal pets or familiars of witches. Also known as neonatal milk.

lungs and breathing

alveolus a tiny air sac in which oxygen is trans­ferred from the lungs to the blood.

apnea a temporary cessation of breathing, usually caused by too much oxygen or too little carbon diox­ide in the brain.

asphyxia suffocation.

aspirate to inhale food or fluid into the lungs.

asthma a disease characterized by constriction of breathing passages and shortness of breath.

bronchiole one of the tiny tubes leading to an alveolus.

bronchitis inflammation of the bronchial tubes.