Final answer:
The statement is false as neonates have higher heart and respiratory rates than adults. Newborns have heart rates around 120 bpm and respiratory rates of 30 to 60 breaths per minute, which are essential for their growth and development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that neonatal heart rate and respiratory rate are both lower than those of adults is false. Newborns actually have higher rates for both heart rate and respiratory rate compared to adults. The normal resting heart rate (HR) for newborns may be around 120 beats per minute (bpm), which gradually decreases to an adult range with age. As for respiration, a child under one year old has a respiratory rate of 30 to 60 breaths per minute, which is significantly higher than the normal adult range of 12 to 18 breaths per minute.
These higher rates in neonates are due to several factors, including their need for greater oxygen exchange, a higher metabolic rate, and the physiology of their developing bodies, particularly their smaller lung capacity. It is important for neonates to maintain these higher rates to ensure adequate growth and development during the critical early stages of life