Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

In relation to birth, a child who is born at the completion of gestation and so has had the normal amount of time to develop in the uterus, as opposed to a premature child, who is born without having the full nine months (medically, 40 weeks) to develop. A complete pregnancy of forty weeks. In…

A type of fetal presentation in which the legs are straight and bent upward so that the feet are near the shoulder. Position of the fetus within the mother’s uterus in which the buttocks present at the maternal pelvic outlet, not the head as is normal for delivery.  

The ability to recognize an object or shape, regardless of what position or angle it is viewed from or with slight changes in color or size; an important element in spatial orientation and in visual skills that often gives difficulty to children with learning disabilities or other developmental disorders. The ability to identify an object…

The fourth stage of children’s learning, according to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.  

A type of fetal presentation in which one or both feet are tucked backward under the buttocks at the pelvic opening, with one foot being called single footling and both feet called double footling. A fetal position within the womb where the feet of the unborn baby are closest to the cervix, and thus will…

Information that the Food and Drug Administration requires to be on all food products from manufacturers, including information on the ingredients; the net contents or net weight (including liquid); the name and business address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and (where appropriate) the date by which it should be sold. The information provided on…

Any substance added to food during processing. In the United States and many other countries, such additives are regulated and tested for safety, though problems can still occur. Chemicals added to food as preservatives, sweeteners, colorants, flavorings, or antioxidants. Thousands of food additives exist, and most are safe. Some, however, cause adverse reactions in susceptible…

Use of hand shapes to stand for letters of the alphabet, to spell out words. Fingerspelling is often used by people with ear and hearing problems when they are being taught using a total communications approach, but it is avoided by those teachers of the deaf who believe that no form of manual communication should…

For students, a variety of programs providing help in handling the costs of attending a college or private school, some applying only to tuition costs but others covering additional expenses, such as room and board, books, and other supplies. Financial aid comes in many forms, including scholar¬ ships, grants, subsidized loans, work-study programs, and (generally…

The killing of a living fetus in the uterus, as through abortion. Recently, some antiabortion activists have taken to using the term infanticide instead, for rhetorical purposes.