Evolution and Development of Dual Ingestion Systems in Mammals: Notes on a New Thesis and Its Clinical Implications

Figure 3

An idealized depiction of the coordinate development of suckling and feeding behavior which, together, comprise the development of oral ingestion. Note that the horizontal axis depicts an unspecified range of “developmental time” with vertical markers exemplifying a preterm birth and a term birth. The purpose of noting these events is to illustrate that the suckling system may not be functionally ready for the preterm infant, whereas it is prepared to be engaged at term.