uterine cavity in 720

Three Stages of Fetal Development

• Cleavages create a ball of 16 - 50
cells called a morula, which divides
Preembryoni Embryonic Fetal stage: into cells that form fetal structures
c stage: stage: ( eight week
( fertilization ( weeks 3 until birth ) • Blastocysts - inner cells form the
through the through the embryo and the amnion
second week ) eighth week ) • Trophoblasts - outer cells form the
embryonic membranes, Chorion and placenta
• Embryoblast/inner cell mast –
portion that will form the embryo
Fertilization - union of the ovum and
sperm in the outer 3rd of the fallopian
• Implantation in the
tube creating a zygote
endometrium occurs
• The union restores the diploid number of
between the 8th to 10th day.
46 chromosomes
Apposition – blastocyst brushes
3 separate factors of fertilization
against the rich uterine endometrium.
1. Equal maturation of both sperm and
Adhesion – it attaches to the surface
ovum
of the endometrium
2. Ability of the sperm to reach the ovum
Invasion – settle down into its soft folds
3. Ability of the sperm to penetrate the zona
pellucida and cell membrane and achieve
•Fetal membranes start forming
fertilization
around the time of implantation
• When ovum is extruded from a
• Decidua “falling off” endometrial lining
graafian follicle – it is surrounded
by a mucopolysaccharide fluid
• Chorionic villi – form the placenta
(zona pellucida)and a circle of
– Central core - produce various placental
corona radiata or circle of cells
hormones, such as hCG,
somatomammotropin (human placental
• An ejaculation of semen averages 2.5 ml
lactogen [hPL]), estrogen, and progesterone.
of fluid containing 50 to 200ml million
- middle layer, the cytotrophoblast or
spermatozoa/ml (400ml
sperm/ejacultation)
Langhans’ layer – provide protection
• Sperm reach the cervix within 90 seconds
and the fallopian 5minutes after deposition
PLACENTA - “pancake,”
Capacitation – is the process consist of changes
Placenta
in the plasma membrane of the sperm head,
• Functioning by end of the 3rd wk.
which
• Produces hormones that control the
reveal the sperm-binding receptor sites.
basic physiology of the mother and near
term mature fetal organs for life outside
All of the spermatozoa that achieve capacitation
of the uterus
reach the ovum and cluster around theprotective
• Protects the fetus from immune attack
layer of corona cells.
by the mother
• Removes waste produced by the fetus
Spermatozoa releases hyaluronidase (a
the rate of uteroplacental blood flow in
proteolytic
pregnancy increases from about 50 ml/min
enzyme) to dissolve the layer protecting the ovum
at 10 weeks to 500 to 600 ml/min at term
• Zygote undergoes cleavages
Braxton Hicks contractions- barely
(mitosis) as it is transported to the
noticeable uterine contractions
Embryonic and Fetal Structures
• Placental barrier prevents the mix of
maternal blood with fetal blood
Placental Hormones
• Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
• Human placental lactogen (hPL)
• Estrogen, progesterone
• Relaxin
UTERINE PERFUSION AND PLACENTAL
CIRCULATION - are most efficient when the
mother lies on her left side
VENA CAVA SYNDROME - At term a placenta
weighs 400 to 600 g (1
lb), one-sixth the weight of the newborn
ENDOCRINE FUNCTION
Human Chorionic
• act as a fail-safe measure to ensure the
corpus luteum of the ovary continues to
produce progesterone and estrogen so the
endometrium of the uterus is maintained
• play a role in suppressing the maternal
immunologic response so placental tissue
is not detected and rejected as a foreign
substance.
PROGESTERONE - “hormone that maintains
pregnancy.”
- reduce the contractility of the uterus
ESTROGEN - “hormone of women”
- contributes to the woman’s mammary
gland development
- stimulates uterine growth
Human Placental Lactogen (Human
Chorionic Somatomammotropin)
- promotes mammary gland (breast)
growth
- regulates maternal glucose, protein, and
fat levels
AMNIOTIC MEMBRANES
• CHORION – outer mostpart
• AMNION – inner most part
- produce amniotic fluid
- produce phospholipids
Amniotic Fluid
• Surrounds embryo,
• Helps maintain a constant body
temperature for the fetus
• Permits symmetric growth and
development
• Cushions the fetus from trauma
Amniotic Fluid Function
• Allows the umbilical cord to be relatively
free of compression
• Promotes fetal movement to enhance
musculoskeletal development
UMBILICAL CORD
Umbilical cord
• Life line between mother and embryo
• 1 large vein & 2 small arteries (AVA)
• Wharton’s jelly surrounds the blood
vessels preventing compression
• Term length 21 in. / 3/4 in. wide
• Central insertion site on the placenta
• Rate of blood flow at term – 350ml/min
• Hypocoiling – assoc. maternal
hypertension
• Hypercoiling – assoc. respiratory distress
in the newborn
Origin and Development of Organ Systems
• STEM CELLS – totipotent, pluripotent,
multipotent
• ZYGOTE GROWTH – CEPHALOCAUDAL
DIRECTION
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
• forms as early as the 16th day of life and
beats as early as the 24th
• sixth or seventh week - septum that
divides the heart into chambers develops
• Seventh week - heart valves develop
• 10th to 12th week - heartbeat may be
heard with a Doppler instrument
Fetal Circulation
• Needed to sustain the fetus
• Must develop quickly and accurately
since the fetal nutrient needs Increase
as the embryo advances to a fetus
• Oxygen received from the placenta
• Placenta functions for the fetal lungs
and liver
Three unique shunts
• Ductus Venosus
• Foramen Ovale
• Ductus Arteriosus
FETAL HEMOGLOBIN
• hemoglobin is more concentrated
• a newborn’s hemoglobin level is about
17.1 g/100 ml compared with a normal
adult level of 11 g/100 ml;
• a newborn’s hematocrit is about 53%
compared with a normal adult level of 45
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
• 3RD WEEK - the respiratory and digestive
tracts exist as a single tube
• 4TH WEEK - a septum begins to divide the
esophagus from the trachea; lung buds
appear on TRACHEA
Other important respiratory developmental
milestones
include:
• Spontaneous respiratory practice movements
begin as
early as 3 months gestation and continue
throughout
pregnancy.
• Specific lung fluid with a low surface tension
and low
viscosity forms in alveoli to aid in expansion of
the alveoli
at birth; it is rapidly absorbed shortly after birth.
• Surfactant, a phospholipid substance, is formed
and
excreted by the alveolar cells of the lungs
beginning at
approximately the 24th week of pregnancy.
SURFACTANT
• lecithin and Sphingomyelin
• approximately 35 weeks, there is a surge
in the production of lecithin, which then
becomes the chief component by a ratio of 2:1.
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• 3RD WEEK – neural plate apparent
• 8th WEEK – brain waves can be detected
on EEG
• 24 WEEKS – ear is capable of responding
to sound; eyes exhibit pupillary reaction
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• The fetal pancreas produces insulin
needed by the fetus (insulin is one of the
few substances that does not cross the
placenta from the mother to the fetus).
• The thyroid and parathyroid glands play
vital roles in fetal metabolic function and
calcium balance.
• The fetal adrenal glands supply a
precursor necessary for estrogen
synthesis by the placenta.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
• 6TH WEEK – rapid intestinal growth
• Meconium is sticky in consistency and
appears black or dark
• vitamin K
DIGESTIVE TRACT
• 36 WEEKS - secrete enzymes
• LIVER – active throughout intrauterine life
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
• 2 weeks- cartilage prototypes provide position
and
support to the fetus.
• 12th week - Ossification of the cartilage into
bone
begins.
• 11th week - A fetus can be seen to move on
ultrasonography
• 16 to 20 weeks of gestation - quickening
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• 8 weeks - by chromosomal analysis or
analysis of fetal cells in the mother’s
bloodstream SEX CAN BE DETERMINED

• sixth week after implantation, the gonads

(i.e., ovaries or testes) form

• 8 weeks - by chromosomal analysis or

analysis of fetal cells in the mother’s
bloodstream SEX CAN BE DETERMINED

• sixth week after implantation, the gonads

(i.e., ovaries or testes) form

URINARY SYSTEM

• 4TH WEEK -rudimentary kidney present

• 12th WEEK – urine is formed
• 16th WEEK – urine excreted into the
amniotic fluid
• At term – urine excreted at a rate of
500ml/day

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

• 36 WEEKS – subcutaneous fat begins to

be deposited underneath the skin

• LANUGO – SOFT DOWNY HAIRS

• VERNIX CASEOSA - cream cheese–like

substance

IMMUNE SYSTEM

• 20th week - Immunoglobulin (Ig) G

maternal antibodies cross the placenta
into the fetus

• 24th week of intrauterine life to give a

fetus temporary passive immunity against

Development

• Embryonic and Fetal Development

Expected Date of Birth (EDB)

• Nagele’s Rule – to calculate

the date of birth by this rule,
count backward 3 calendar
months from the 1st day of the
last menstrual period and add
7 days.