UNSW Embryology

Foundations

Practical - Introduction to Human Development

© Dr Mark Hill (2009)

Acknowledgements

5. The Neonatal Period

Some essential systems come online, others are still developing.

Introduction

The neonatal period is about the transition from an interuterine placenta and maternally supported life to life to relatively independent life in the external environment.

 

A Newborn Infant

Comments

In developing a broad understanding of the neonatal period you need to think about the two different environments and the effects of loss of placental support. Also remember that substantial postnatal development still has to occur postnatally in the musculoskeletal, nervous and immune systems.

These notes and linked materials have been prepared for Educational purposes only. Please email Dr Mark Hill if you wish to make a comment about this current project.

Fetus to Neonate

Involves three phases regulated by a series of fetal and placental endocrine events. These processes are needed to establish independent homoeostatic regulation after separation from the placenta.

• Transition Phases
• Late Gestation
• Parturition (More? Birth Overview | Normal Development- Birth - Stillbirth and Perinatal Death )

Newborn Homoeostasis

Newborn has to establish

• lung function
• circulatory changes
• thermoregulation
• endocrine function
• nutrition
• gastrointestinal tract function
• waste
• kidney function

Maternal Changes

Puerperium - six weeks following birth, maternal reproductive organs and physiology return to pre-pregnancy state.

Involution - process of tissue catabolism of uterus.

Lochia - uterine (placental) discharge, blood plus mucous, continues for about 4 weeks.

Mammary - glandular development and function.

Brain Changes

Complex and ongoing processes of neurological development continue postnatally, this can be seen at the basic level of overall brain weight.

Next

Link to next page in this Practical - Critical Periods.

Glossary

Use the alphabetical list below to find definitions of terms that are new to you.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W |X | Y | Z

Terms

Quick Links

Movie of Human Embryo Growth (this shows a human embryo growing, all images are to scale)

Movie of Mouse Embryo Growth (this shows a mouse embryo growing)

ABC Child Health | ABC Parents (ABC external links to Parenting and Child Health general information for the postnatal period)

Quick Links

Development Notes ----------------- Menstrual Cycle Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Placenta Serial Images Genes/DNA Molecular Dev Abnormal Dev Postnatal Dev Notes Index

System Notes ----------------- Heart/Cardiovascular Respiratory Coelomic cavity Gastrointestinal Tract Head and Neck Neural Neural Crest Eye Ear Nose Endocrine Urogenital Musculoskeletal Integumentary

Movies ----------------- Embryo Growth Ultrasound Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Stage 13/14 Stage 22 Neural Head and Neck Heart Vasculature Gastrointestinal Urogenital Other Embryos Larsen Internet

Other Embryos ----------------- Chicken Fly Frog Mouse Rabbit Rat Worm Zebrafish Guinea Pig

UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4

UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G