MODULE 11

Pre-Natal Development
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
 Trace the course of the pre-natal development process that you went through.
 Explain the most common hazards to pre-natal development.
 Become more appreciative of the gift of life manifested in an anti-abortion
stand.

Stages of Pre-Natal Development

1) Germinal Period
2) Embryonic Period
3) Fetal Period

Germinal Period (first 2 weeks after conception)

- Includes:
a. Creation of the zygote
b. Continued cell division
c. Attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall
- The differentiation of cells already begins as inner and outer layers of the
organism are formed
- Blastocyst – the inner layer of cells that develops during the germinal period
- Trophoblast – the outer layer of cells that develops also during the germinal
period

Embryonic Period (2-8 weeks after conception)

- The zygote (mass cells) become embryo
o Cell differentiation intensifies
o Life-support systems for the embryo develop and;
o Organs appear

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 Layers of Cell:
1) Endoderm
2) Ectoderm
3) Mesoderm

Endoderm – the inner layer of cells;

develops into the digestive and respiratory
systems

Ectoderm – the outermost layer which

becomes the nervous system, sensory
receptors (eyes, ears, nose) and skin parts
(nails, hair)

Mesoderm – the middle layer which

becomes the circulatory, skeletal,
muscular, excretory and reproductive
systems

Organogenesis – the process of organ

formation during the first 2 months of pre-natal development

Life-Support Systems

a. Placenta – consists of a disk-shaped group

of tissues in which small blood vessels from
the mother and the offspring intertwine but
do not join
b. Umbilical Cord – contains 2 arteries and 1
vein that connects the baby to the placenta
c. Amnion – a bag or envelope that contains a
clear fluid in which the developing embryo
floats

Fetal period (2 months to 7 months after

conception)
- Growth and development continue dramatically during this period

Teratology and Hazards to Prenatal Development

Teratology - is the field that investigates the causes of congenital (birth) defects

Teratogen – causes birth defects; comes from the Greek word “ tera” which means
“monster”
1) Prescription and nonprescription drugs
2) Psychoactive Drugs

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 3) Environmental Hazard
4) Other maternal factors
5) Paternal Factors

Prescription/Nonprescription Drugs
- Prescription Drugs – antibiotics
- Nonprescription Drugs – diet pills, aspirin, coffee

Psychoactive Drugs
- Include nicotine, caffeine, and illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and
heroine
*Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – result of heavy drinking by pregnant women; a
cluster of abnormalities that appears in children of mothers who drink alcohol heavily during
pregnancy

Environmental Hazards
- Include radiation in jobsites and X-rays, environmental pollutants, toxic wastes,
and prolonged exposure to heat in saunas and bath tubs

Other maternal factors

- Includes Rubella (German Measles), syphilis, genital herpes, AIDS, nutrition, high
anxiety, and stress, age (too early or too late)

3 Ways on How a Mother Can Infect her Child:

1) During gestation across the placenta
2) During delivery through contact with maternal blood or fluids
3) Postpartum (after birth) through breastfeeding

Folic acid

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 - necessary for pregnant mothers
- can reduce the risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and
spinal cord called the “neural tube”

Spina Bifida
- most common neural tube defect is born with a spine that is not closed
- exposed nerves are damaged, leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis
and sometimes mental retardation.

Paternal Factors
- father’s exposure to lead, radiation, certain pesticides and petrochemicals may
cause abnormalities in sperm that lead to miscarriage or diseases such as
childhood cancer

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