DEVELOPMENT OF THE FETUS

Summary of development
 0-4 WEEKS AFTER CONCEPTION
• Rapid growth
• Formation of the embryonic plate
• Primitive central nervous system
forms
• Heart develops and begins to beat
• Limb duct forms
 4-8 WEEKS
• Very rapid cell division
• Head and facial features develop
• All major organs laid down in primitive form
• External genitalia present but sex not
distinguishable
• Early movements
• Visible on ultrasound from 6 weeks
 8-12 WEEKS
• Eye lids fuse
• Kidneys begin to function and the fetus passes
urine from weeks
• Fetal circulation functioning properly
• Sucking and swallowing begin
• Sex appearance
• Moves freely( not felt by mother)
• Some primitive reflex present
 12-16 WEEKS
• Rapid skeletal development
visible x-ray
• Meconium pass present in gut
( stool was produced)
• Lanugo appears
• Nasal septum fuse
• Lanugo is very thin, soft, usually unpigmented,
downy hair that is sometimes found on the
body of a fetal or new-born human
 16-20 WEEKS
• Quickening – mother feels fetal
movements
• Fetal heart heard on auscultation
• Vernix caseosa appears
• Finger nails can be seen
• Skin cells begin to be renewed
• The vernix caseosa is a protective layer on
your baby's skin. It appears as a white,
cheese-like substance .
 20 - 24 WEEKS

• Most organs become capable

of function
• Periods of sleep and activity
• Respond to sound
 28 – 32 WEEKS

• Begin to store fat and iron

• Testes descend in to
scrotum
• Lanugo appears from face
• Skin becomes wrinkled
 32-34 WEEKS
• Increased fat makes the body more
rounded
• Lanugo disappears from the body
• Head hair lengthiness
• Nail reach tips of fingers
• Ear cartilage soft
• Planter creases visible
 34 – 40 WEEKS

Term is reach and birth is due

to contours rounded skull form