An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body and is safe since it does not use radiation. During pregnancy, ultrasounds can measure various fetal structures like the crown rump length, biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference to determine fetal growth and development. Specific structures that can be seen on early pregnancy ultrasounds include the gestational sac, yolk sac, and fetal pole. Later measurements include the biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference which are used to estimate fetal age and weight.
An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body and is safe since it does not use radiation. During pregnancy, ultrasounds can measure various fetal structures like the crown rump length, biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference to determine fetal growth and development. Specific structures that can be seen on early pregnancy ultrasounds include the gestational sac, yolk sac, and fetal pole. Later measurements include the biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference which are used to estimate fetal age and weight.
An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body and is safe since it does not use radiation. During pregnancy, ultrasounds can measure various fetal structures like the crown rump length, biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference to determine fetal growth and development. Specific structures that can be seen on early pregnancy ultrasounds include the gestational sac, yolk sac, and fetal pole. Later measurements include the biparietal diameter, femur length, head circumference, and abdominal circumference which are used to estimate fetal age and weight.
sonogram, diagnostic sonography, and ultrasonography, is a device that uses high- frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. Because sound waves are used instead of radiation,ultrasound scans are safe. During pregnancy many different ultrasounds measurements can be done. Fetal ultrasound measurements can include the crown rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), head circumference (HC), occipitofrontal diameter (OFD), abdominal circumference (AC), and humerus length (HL), as well as calculation of the estimated fetal weight (EFW). Gestational sac (GA) The gestational sac (GS) is a structure that surrounds an embryo and is likely the first pregnancy structure that can see on ultrasound in early pregnancies. Yolk Sac The yolk sac is a membraneous sac attached to the embryo. It can be seen on ultrasound between the embryo and the gestational sac Fetal Pole The fetal pole is amass of cells before the embryo is visible. Crown-rump length (CRL) The term crown "crown rump length" is borrowed from the early 20th century embryologists who found that preserved specimens of early miscarriages assumed a "sitting in the chair" posture so they they substituted the head-to-butt length (crown rump length) as a reproducible method of measuring the fetus. The CRL measurement is the distance between the top of the embryo and it's rump. Biparietal diameter (BPD) The diameter between the 2 sides of the head. This is measured after 13 weeks. It increases from about 2.4 cm at 13 weeks to about 9.5 cm at term. Different babies of the same weight can have different head size, therefore dating in the later part of pregnancy is generally considered unreliable. Head circumference (HC) The head circumference or HC measures the circumference of the fetus' head. The HCis usually done after 13 weeks of the pregnancy. Femur length (FL) Measures the longest bone in the body and reflects the longitudinal growth of the fetus. Its usefulness is similar to the BPD. It increases from about 1.5 cm at 14 weeks to about 7.8 cm at term. (Chart and further comments) Similar to the BPD, dating using the FL should be done as early as is feasible. Abdominal circumference (AC) The single most important measurement to make in late pregnancy. It reflects more of fetal size and weight rather than age. Serial measurements are useful in monitoring growth of the fetus. (Chart and further comments) AC measurements should not be used for dating a fetus. Estimated fetal Weight (EFW) The weight of the fetus at any gestation can also be estimated with great accuracy using polynomial equations containing the BPD, FL, and AC. Computer softwares and lookup charts are readily available. For example, a BPD of 9.0 cm and an AC of 30.0 cm will give a weight estimate of 2.85 kg.