Final answer:
The cephalocaudal trend is the developmental pattern of physical growth in which development begins at the head and progresses down towards the feet, evident during infancy and adolescence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical growth pattern known as the cephalocaudal trend refers to head-to-toe growth. This developmental principle suggests that growth starts at the head and upper body parts and then proceeds down to the rest of the body. During infancy, this pattern is particularly noticeable as babies first gain control of their heads and necks, then their upper bodies, followed by their legs. In early childhood, milestones reflect this growth pattern, as physical development allows children to first stabilize their heads, crawl, and eventually walk.
During adolescence, this trend continues but with some variations. The adolescent growth spurt (AGS) describes a phase where various parts of the body grow at different rates. Usually the head, hands, and feet grow first, followed by the arms and legs, and finally the trunk and shoulders. This unequal growth can cause adolescents to appear gangly or awkward until growth becomes more uniform at the end of puberty.