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The pediatric nurse is aware of the maturation of organ systems in the school-age child. What accurately describes these changes? Select all that apply.
 
  A) The brain grows very slowly during the school-age years and growth is complete by the time the child is 12 years of age.
  B) Respiratory rates decrease, abdominal breathing disappears, and respirations become diaphragmatic in nature.
  C) The school-age child's blood pressure increases and the pulse rate decreases, and the heart grows more slowly during the middle years.
  D) The school-age child experiences more gastrointestinal upsets compared with earlier years since the stomach capacity increases.
  E) Bladder capacity increases, but varies among individual children, and girls generally have a greater bladder capacity than boys.
  F) Prepubescence typically occurs in the 2 years before the beginning of puberty and is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Ans: B, C, E, F
Respiratory rates decrease, abdominal breathing disappears, and respirations become diaphragmatic in nature. The school-age child's blood pressure increases and the pulse rate decreases. The heart grows more slowly during the middle years and is smaller in size in relation to the rest of the body than at any other development stage. Bladder capacity increases, but varies among individual children. Girls generally have a greater bladder capacity than boys. Prepubescence typically occurs in the 2 years before the beginning of puberty and is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics. The brain and skull grow very slowly during the school-age years. Brain growth is complete by the time the child is 10 years of age. The school-age child experiences fewer gastrointestinal upsets compared with earlier years. Stomach capacity increases, which permits retention of food for longer periods of time.