Growth and

Development
Dr. Vishakha Mittal
(Dept of Pedodontics)

Dr. Vishakha Mittal

(Dept of Pedodontics)

GROWTH
To know the normal growth and how it occurs.
Difference between normal and abnormal growth.
Timing of growth.
Working with growth.

Definitions
GROWTH
Growth may be defined as the normal change in the
amount of living substance- Moyers
Growth usually refers to an increase in size and
number Profitt
Growth refers to increase in size - Todd

DEVELOPMENT
Development is a progress towards maturity Todd
Development refers to all naturally occurring progressive,
unidirectional, sequential changes in the life of an
individual from its existence as a single cell to its
elaboration as a multifunctional unit terminating in death
Moyers
Development connotes a maturational process involving
progressive differentiation at the cellular and tissue levels
- Enlow

CORRELATION BETWEEN
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Growth is basically anatomic phenomenon and

quantitative in nature

Development is basically physiologic

phenomenon and qualitative in nature

PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH &

DEVELOPMENT
1. Development follows cephalo-caudal gradient
2. Development proeeds from center of the body
outward.
3. Development proceeds from simple (concrete) to
more complex
4. Growth rate of different body tissues
5. Growth and development is a continuous process
6. Development depends on maturation and learning

CEPHALOCAUDAL GRADIENT OF
GROWTH

CEPHALOCAUDAL GRADIENT OF
GROWTH
Axis of increased growth extending from the head towards the
feet.
In fetal life head 50% of total body length.
At this stage, the cranium is large relative to the face and
represents more than half the total head. Limbs are still
rudimentary and trunk underdeveloped.
At birth head has decreased to about 30%
In Adult progressive reduction of the relative size of the
head to about 12% the adult.

2. development proceeds from center

of the body outward
This is the principle of
proximodistal development that
also describes direction off
development.

Spinal cord develops before outer

parts of the body.

Arms develop before hands and

hands and feet develop before the
finger and toes.

3. Development proceeds from simple

to complex
Pre school child difference in color
(red, blue etc)

3 5 years old difference in shape

( triangle, square, circle etc)

NOT ALL TISSUE SYSTEMS OF BODY

GROW AT THE SAME RATE OR MATURE
AT THE SAME TIME
4. DIFFERENTIAL GROWTH

4. DIFFERENTIAL GROWTH
Scammons curves Depicting
differential growth

Neural tissue growth starts

early and is completed by 6
7 years
Lymphoid tissue growth is
completed in late childhood
and growth of genital tissues
accelerates at the same time.

Scammons Growth Curve

General Body tissue follows

S-Shaped curve.

5. Growth and development is a

continuous process
As a child develops, he/she adds to the
skills already acquired.
Also, one stage of foundation lays the
foundation for the next stage of
development.

6. Growth and development proceeds

from general to specific
Development occurs from large muscle
movements to more fine (smaller
muscle) movements.

7. Development depends on
maturation and learning
Changes in brain and nervous system largely
account for maturation, which help children to
improve in thinking (cognitive) and motor
(physical) skills.

8. There are
individual
rates of
growth and
development
Each child is
different and the
rate at which an
individual child
grows in different.
Although the
patterns and
sequences for
growth are usually

 Largely under
genetic control

TIMING OF
GROWTH

Altered by
environment
Sex related
difference in
timing of events
Growth spurts
Dental calcification
Ossification of carpal
bones

GROWTH SPURTS

 There are periods when sudden acceleration of growth

occurs. This sudden increase in growth is known as
Growth spurt.
Cause of this accelerated growth alteration in hormonal
secretion
Sex-linked

GROWTH SPURTS

Periods of growth spurts

1. Just before Birth (Prenatal)
2. One year after birth (Infantile spurt)
3. Pre-pubertal growth spurt (Juvenile spurt)
Girls 7-9 years
Boys 8-11 years

4. Pubertal growth spurt

Girls 11-13 years
Boys 14-16 years

GROWTH SPURTS

IMPORTANCE OF GROWTH SPURTS

Pubertal increments offers best time for large number of
cases for the orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment.

It also helps in determining the predictability, growth

direction, patient management and total treatment time.

Growth spurts serve as indicators for timing of orthodontic

treatment

1. What is Scammons growth curve?

2. What do you mean by
Cephalo-caudal gradient of
growth ?
3. Various Growth
spurts ?
4. Importance of Growth
spurts?

THEORIES OF GROWTH
Genetic Theory Broadie, 1941
Scotts Cartilaginous theory Scott,
1953
Sutural Dominanace theory Sicher,
1955
Functional matriz theory Moss, 1962
Van Limbors concept Von Limborg,
1970

GENETIC THEORY (Broadie, 1941)

1950s to 1970s:
Genes control all the functions of growth and
development
Support
-

Tissues do not govern their own differentiation.

Ingeritance is polygenic in nature., e.g., Class III

malocclusion

Against
-Mainly based on observations
-No evident scientific data
-Lacked scientific understanding and soon replaced by

SUTURAL DOMINANCE THEORY

(SICHER, 1955)

The primary event in sutural growth is the proliferation of the connective

tissue between the two bones. If sutural tissue proliferates, it creates the
space for appositional growth at the border of the bones.

Evidences Against Sichers Theory:

1. Auto transplants of sutures fail to grow in cultural medium though
provided with same environment and conditions. Lack of innate
growth potential in the sutures
2. If sutures are compressed growth is impeded
3. If bones are mechanically pulled apart new bone will fill in the
sutures
4. Sutures when transplanted fail to grow
5. Growth in untreated cases of cleft palate

CARTILAGENOUS THEORY
(JAMES SCOTT-1956)
States that determinant of craniofacial
growth is by growth of cartilage.

According the Scott:--> Spheno-occipital synchondrosis

cartilage -responsible for the
growth of cranial base.
--> Nasal septal cartilage
Responsible for the growth of
maxilla
--> Condylar cartilage
Responsible for the growth of
mandible

CARTILAGENOUS THEORY
(JAMES SCOTT-1956)
Support of this theory
Although no cartilage in maxilla but there is nasal septum
nasomaxillary complex as a unit.
Removal of nasal septum midfacial deformities

Profile view of man whose

cartilaginous nasal septum was
removed at age 8, after an injury.