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The article explores the anatomy and pathophysiology of the endocrine system aimed to enhance the nurses' knowledge of this system, including its functioning and the conditions that young people are likely to experience when it malfunctions. Topics covered include the glands of the endocrine system and the hormones they secrete, the effects of hormones on normal functions of the human body, and the presentation and management of the most common endocrinopathies in children.

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and development of the five senses • To increase your awareness of the common childhood conditions that can affect sensory function • To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) This article, the 11th in the Biological basis of child health series, focuses on the senses. There are five basic senses in humans: hearing, sight, touch, smell and taste. Several congenital and acquired conditions can affect the senses and may have significant negative effects on a child's development and ability to communicate with others. This article explores each of the five senses, discussing their anatomy, physiology and embryological development, as well as common conditions affecting sensory function in children. It aims to provide children's nurses with an understanding of the role of the senses in supporting children to make sense of the world, and how knowledge of this can be linked to clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the composition, functions and formation of blood and common blood disorders in children. It outlines the embryonic development of blood cells, occurrence of haemopoiesis and blood count values for different age groups. It explains signs and symptoms, causes and risks for and effects of low blood cell counts on children. Information is provided on blood groups, blood transfusions and disorders such as anaemia, sickle cell disease, clotting, haemophilia and blood cancer.

Why you should read this article: • To refresh your knowledge of the stages of growth and developmental milestones in childhood • To enable you to understand various conditions that can affect growth and development in children • To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) This article is the seventh in a series on the biological basis of child health. It describes early developmental milestones, stages of growth, puberty and the development of the reproductive system. It also outlines the methods used to assess growth and development, and describes conditions that affect growth and development in infants, children and young people. Understanding childhood growth and development is crucial for children's nurses, who need to be able to identify potential deviations from the norm, since these often reveal underlying conditions that require treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the sixth in a series on the biological basis of child health. It provides an overview of the development of the skeletal system before and after birth, and outlines the potential congenital anomalies that may occur. The article explains the structure and function of the bones before describing the role of the joints, tendons and ligaments. It also outlines the presentation and management of some of the common orthopaedic conditions seen in infants and children, including fractures, osteogenesis imperfecta, scoliosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, developmental dysplasia of the hip and achondroplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AUTH Why you should read this article: • To enhance your knowledge of the development of the respiratory system before and after birth • To understand the causes and management of various common respiratory conditions that infants and children may present with • To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers) • To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers) This article is the fifth in a series on the biological basis of child health. It describes the development of the respiratory system, which starts relatively late in the embryo and continues after birth until the age of seven to eight years. It explains what the developing anatomy of the respiratory system in infants and children means in terms of the conditions that may occur and the precautions required when assessing them. The article provides an overview of the elements of respiratory assessment in infants and children and describes some respiratory conditions seen in these patient groups. It also discusses some of the changes in the care of children with respiratory conditions, which has increasingly moved from hospital into the community and become nurse-led, multidisciplinary and holistic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]