Final answer:
A normal newborn typically has a prominent abdomen due to the growth and positioning of internal organs. The head is disproportionately large, making up about one-quarter of the body length, and the limbs are relatively long. Newborn skin might show vernix, blood, and peeling, and the navel forms after the umbilical cord is cut and withers away.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical characteristic that is typically seen in a normal newborn is a prominent abdomen. Newborns have a noticeable protrusion of the abdomen. This is due to their internal organs still growing and settling into their final positions. A newborn's body proportions are distinctive with the head being very large in proportion to their body, making up about one-quarter of their total body length. This is in contrast to an adult whose head is about one-seventh of the total body length. The newborn's large head includes features like soft spots in the skull called fontanels which allow for slight shape changes during the birthing process.
Other normal physical characteristics of neonates include skin that might be covered with blood and coated with patches of waxy vernix, possible peeling skin, and the presence of lanugo hair which usually disappears within a month. Additionally, the limbs are relatively long compared to the rest of the body. After birth, the umbilical cord is cut, leaving a stub that withers away to form the navel.