Anatomical Differences between Children and Adults

Abstract

In this review,   anatomical differences between  child   and   adult   were   mentioned.   These differences are especially apparent in infancy and preschool term. When the child reaches the school age term, the differences begin to decrease gradually.  When the child reaches the age of 18, the child has the same characteristics as the adult. The main differences include skin, subcutaneous tissue, total amount of water in the body, muscles preferred in pharmaceutical applications,   external   ear   structure,   Eustachian   tube,   anatomy   of   the   eye,   bone   skeletal structure, spinal cord and brain, respiratory tract, digestive organs, cardiovascular system and urinary system. The differences especially between child and adult brain structure are striking. The brain tissue in the child is more sensitive, calvarium is thinner, subarachnoid space is narrower.   Morover;   the   differences   in   gynecological   examination   and   lumber   puncture practices   were   also   reviewed.  In   adults,   gluteal   muscles   are   used   in   intramuscular applications, while in infants, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles are commonly used. These anatomical differences are important for the diagnosis and treatment of the doctors. Nurses should take these differences into account in pediatric drug applications in the clinic and in the care of children. Clinicians should know that children are not small adults.