Final answer:
The cephalocaudal growth pattern indicates that the head, hands, and feet are likely to show the first signs of rapid growth. This pattern is characterized by a top-down growth process, starting with the extremities and followed by the arms, legs, and finally the trunk and shoulders.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the cephalocaudal growth pattern, the parts of the body that are likely to show fast growth first are the extremities, including the head, hands, and feet. This pattern suggests that growth starts at the top of the organism and then proceeds downwards. This means that after the extremities, the arms and legs will experience rapid growth, followed by the trunk and shoulders. Infancy is characterized by the most rapid period of growth after birth, surpassing even the rate seen during the adolescent growth spurt. The development of the limbs follows this pattern with an underlying mesenchyme that rapidly proliferates, leading to the growth of the limbs in a proximal-to-distal fashion, starting from the body's midline and extending outwards.