Sandy is pregnant and is concerned about the impact of illness during particular periods of prenatal development. She consults her doctor as to the __________ period during which exposure to certain illnesses would result in irreversible consequences.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sandy is concerned about the critical period, a specific time when the illness would have its greatest consequences. During this time, the concern is that there would be permanent, irreversible harm done to the fetus. This is contrasted with the sensitive period, which is a specific time when an organism is particularly susceptible to certain kinds of stimuli in the environment.

Sandy Is Pregnant and Is Concerned About the Impact of Illness