Which of the following are the two key patterns of human growth?

• A. Anterior and posterior
• B. Superior and inferior
• C. Medial and lateral
• D. Cephalocaudal and proximodistal

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the concept of human growth patterns. Human growth can be described in terms of directions or sequences in which development occurs.
2. Cephalocaudal growth refers to the pattern where development starts from the head and progresses towards the feet. This is why infants gain control over their head and neck muscles before their lower body.
3. Proximodistal growth describes the pattern where development starts from the center of the body and moves towards the extremities. This means that infants develop control over their torso before their arms and legs.
4. Compare these patterns with the options given: anterior and posterior, superior and inferior, medial and lateral. These terms describe anatomical directions but do not specifically relate to the sequence of human growth.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is cephalocaudal and proximodistal, as these are the recognized patterns of human growth in developmental biology.