Final answer:
Option A is correct, with newborns' physical maturity being assessed by observing lanugo, plantar creases, breast tissue, ears, and genitalia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The areas assessed for physical maturity in newborns are lanugo, plantar creases, breast tissue, ears, and genitalia. This corresponds to option A. Newborns exhibit various physical characteristics following birth, such as the presence of vernix coating the skin, peeling skin, and in some cases, lanugo - a fine, colorless hair that usually disappears in the first month after birth. The head is usually very large in proportion to the body, and features such as the fontanels need to be monitored as they gradually ossify. An Apgar test may also be performed immediately after birth to assess a newborn's transition from the womb, which includes evaluating their muscle tone and respiration, among other criteria.