The human life cycle can be explained as the time elapsed from fertilization and birth to death. Absolutely all living organisms have a life cycle, that is, a period of time that elapses between the beginning and the end of life.
During this period, they perform different functions such as feeding and reproduction. Plants and animals go through three stages in their life cycle.
They start as a fertilized seed or egg, grow into an immature individual, and finally become adults that can reproduce giving rise to the next generation.
The life cycle can consist of more than three primary stages, depending on the species. The study of the cycle of life and ages comes from ancient times, as well as the awareness that human beings have to know that if they are born they will die.
As human development is a process of permanent change that takes place throughout existence, each stage is very important because what happens in each one benefits or harms the next stage.
Stages that make up the human life cycle
The stages that make up the human life cycle are those that the human being goes through during his life until he reaches adulthood. Biological and environmental forces act in this cycle, occurring at different stages, from the prenatal phase to old age and death.
Each stage involves changes in the body and therefore each stage is unique. These stages in the human being are basically five:
1 – Prenatal
It occurs from the moment of conception to birth. When the baby is ready, the mother’s body pushes it through the vagina for delivery. This stage comprises three periods:
germ
It starts with conception, when the sperm fertilizes the egg and the egg or zygote, which begins to divide until it forms the embryo that implants in the uterus.
Embryonic
It is the first trimester of pregnancy and the stage when the embryo is in full development.
It is the most sensitive period to possible damage due to several factors.
Fetal
At this stage, the embryo reaches its perfection, the fetus is already in the form of a human being and will continue to mature for another 7 months until birth.
2 – Childhood
At birth, the baby is called a baby. This is a period of startling change; from birth to early adolescence. Childhood has several stages:
neonate
Includes the first month of life. It is a vitally important stage.
Post-neonatal or infant
It includes the first year of life and there are major changes in psychomotor development.
early childhood
It occurs until the age of 3, when they begin to improve the language. At this stage, you learn to control your sphincters and show a strong desire to explore and discover things.
preschool period
From 3 to 6 years of age, this is the stage of childhood when the ability to relate to others is acquired.
They can take on complex tasks and their own behavior adapts to gender roles.
3 – Adolescence
At that moment, the person ceases to be a child without reaching the maturity and balance of a person in adulthood.
There are different criteria for determining when one stage of adolescence ends and another begins. However, this does not mean that there is not a certain acceptance of these phases:
pre-adolescence
It varies from 8 to 11 years, the stage in which it passes from childhood to adolescence. In most cases, it coincides with the onset of puberty.
The physical changes at this stage are considerable, affecting many parts of the body, making it difficult to coordinate movements.
early adolescence
Between 11 and 15 years of age, the main hormonal changes occur. After this phase, the body is quite different from that of pre-adolescence and opinion tends to be highly valued than others.
late adolescence
The last stage of adolescence occurs around the ages of 15 and 19.
During this phase, the corresponding height is reached and the complexion of the body becomes fully adult. Social consciousness is fully developed.
4 – Adulthood
It is the stage of life development at which satisfaction in biological, physical and psychic evolution is achieved.
At this stage, personality and character stabilize. The mature individual is recognized for the control he gains over his emotional life and feelings.
The stages of adult life are:
beginning of adult life
It is the beginning of adult life, more or less from 25 to 40 years old.
middle adulthood
Internship between 40 and 65 years, in which greater stability is expected. While it is still a period of great productivity and experience, it is waning, leading to the end of productive life and old age.
5 – Old age
Aging is a phenomenon present throughout the life cycle, from the moment of conception to death. Despite being something natural, it is difficult to accept it as an innate reality.
It is a stage in which it is necessary to give great importance to health care. Aging is characterized by the decline of metabolic and other body functions.
Loss of sensitivity, elasticity and muscle tone, agility and ability to react. There is deterioration of bone structures, decreased absorption of proteins and collagen from the skin, appearance of wrinkles and progressive loss of libido.
It is a time of adaptation, especially to changes in physical abilities and in personal and social situations.
This would be an ideal life cycle, with a normal aging phase, but the final stage of death can occur at any point in the cycle. Death is the end of life, it is the end of the living organism that was created from birth.
