This page links to all ultrasound movies of live normal human embryos. Ultrasound imaging began in the 1950's but it was only with the application of computer analysis beginning in the 1980's that more detailed images could be generated.
3D Ultrasound Fetal Imaging
Parents now commonly see ultrasound movies or images in the first trimester and clinically this is a non-invasive prenatal diagnostic tool for detection of abnormalities as well as a method of staging (ageing) and checking growth. Ultrasound can also be used in combination with other techniques to locate both embryo and placenta for other prenatal tests (More? Prenatal Diagnosis).
The ultrasound technique can be used at any stage during pregnancy for embryo and placenta monitoring (More? about ultrasound). The ultrasound movies can be viewed in two ways. Firstly, click the image or text link opens a new page with both the movie and a more detailed text description of features. Secondly, clicking on the quicktime link will open the movie alone on a new page. At the bottom of this current page is further ultrasound information and links to internet ultrasound sites.
Abnormal developmental ultrasound and features are listed on a separate page (More? Abnormal Ultrasound) all content is for educational use only.
Special thanks to Dr Andrew McLennan, Foetal Medicine Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital for original video materials.
Page Links: Introduction | Ultrasound Research | Other Imaging Techniques | Human 7 Week Ultrasound | Human 7 Week Twins | Human 8 Week | Human 12 Week | Human 12 Week Fetal Heart Rate | Human 3D Imaging | Human 12 Week 4D | About Ultrasound | Ultrasound Measurements | Other Ultrasound Applications | Ultrasound Links | References | Glossary |
Ultrasound imaging began in the 1950's but it was only with the application of computer analysis beginning in the 1980's that more detailed images could be generated. The increasing quality of ultrasonic equipment and computing allows today realtime 3D scans and calculations of fetal measurements as well as doppler measurement of heart rates.
In medical research there have been recent developments that allow spatial high resolution down to 30 microns in real-time. (More? commercial site Visualsonics | Dev Biology scans)
There are a range of other imaging techniques to study development and used in developmental research.
Other developmental research imaging techniques include:
high frequency ultrasound or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
positron emission tomography (PET)
single photon emission computed tomography
optical bioluminescence
fluorescence
Movie of 7 week human embryo in utero.
The embryo's head, heart and placental attachment can be seen.
Quicktime: 7wk.mov (1.3 Mb)
Movie of 7 week human embryo twins in utero.
Embryos (outlined in red ring) show separate placental attachments.
Quicktime: 7twk.mov (1.0 Mb)
Movie of 8 week human embryo in utero.
The embryo's head, heart (beating), spine, limb buds and placental attachment can be seen. Compare the size and features visible on the embryo with the earlier 7 week embryo.
Quicktime: 8wk.mov (1.8 Mb)
Movie of 12 week human embryo in utero.
The fetus head, heart (beating), spine, limb buds and placental attachment can be seen. Compare the size and features visible on the embryo with the earlier 8 and 7 week embryo.
Quicktime: 12wk.mov (800 Kb)
Movie of 12 week human embryo in utero.
The 12 week fetal heart beat can be seen in the ultrasound and a heart rate calculated from the doppler image.
Quicktime: 12wkFHR.mov (848 Kb)
(More? Notes- Fetal Heart Rate)
No movie link, page describes how 3D ultrasound images are generated. Which is relevant for understanding how 4D imaging movies are made.
Different body tissues reflect sound waves differently. In ultrasound, a beam of sound waves (frequency 3 to 10 MHz) are passed through the body, the reflected waves are analysed by a computer, and an image is then generated on a display screen. The sound source is usually a transducer placed on the surface of the abdomen. (More? Patient Data | 3D Imaging)
The thumbnail image above is linked to an ultrasound scan through the fetal trunk to measure abdominal circumference (AC).
There can be number of different parameters, depending on gestational age, that are commonly recorded during an ultrasound procedure. These measurements (and ratios) include embryonic/fetal size and key lengths and sizes of specific structures, fetal membrane sizes/volumes, placental location/size. In addition, general body movements, including heartbeat, can be observed.
Embryonic/Fetal Size: crown-rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC)
Embryonic/Fetal Structures: femur length (FL), head circumference, nuchal translucency, heart size/rate
Fetal Membrane: gestational sac diameter (GS), yolk sac diameter (YS), meconium peritonitis, umbilical cord stricture
Placenta: location, size, umbilical cord stricture
(More? Obstetric Ultrasound Website Determination of gestational age and assessment of fetal size | Obstetric Ultrasound Measurements)
Ultrasound can be used for many different non-invasive clinical applications. Those abnormalities that relate to embryology include ovarian (ovarian cancer, hemorrhagic corpus luteum cyst) and uterine (uterine fibroids, rudimentary uterine horn, endometrial cancer)
These links are to external sites with information about ultrasound and require internet connection.
Smithsonian Videohistory Collection The History of Acuson Ultrasound Machines (RU 9593)
Some excellent fetal imaging from the 2 links below.
3D and Muliplanar Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Italy)
3D and Muliplanar Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Medical) (Italy)
Additional internet resources.
Obstetric Ultrasound by Joseph Woo
History of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology by Joseph Woo
Reviews
Keret D, Bronshtein M, Wientraub S. Prenatal diagnosis of musculoskeletal anomalies. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005 May;(434):8-15. Review.
Bailao LA, Osborne NG, Rizzi MC, Bonilla-Musoles F, Duarte G, Bailao TC. Ultrasound markers of fetal infection part 1: viral infections. Ultrasound Q. 2005 Dec;21(4):295-308.
Articles
Reviews
Swire MN, Castro-Aragon I, Levine D. Various sonographic appearances of the hemorrhagic corpus luteum cyst. Ultrasound Q. 2004 Jun;20(2):45-58. Review.
Togashi K. Ovarian cancer: the clinical role of US, CT, and MRI. Eur Radiol. 2003 Dec;13 Suppl 4:L87-104. Review.
Articles
Jain KA. Sonographic spectrum of hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. J Ultrasound Med. 2002 Aug;21(8):879-86.
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Ultrasound images and linked movies on this page represent normal development. Features of abnormal development as detected by ultrasound are listed on a separate page (More? Abnormal Ultrasound )
Originally only small versions of the 7, 8 and 12 week ultrasounds were available. With increases in internet connection speeds and the update to DVD format I have now included larger and more detailed ultrasounds including 3D and 4D images.
Special thanks to Dr Andrew McLennan, Foetal Medicine Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital for original video materials.
UNSW Embryology has many movies to show some of the dynamic changes that occur during embryonic development.
There also an about movies page which has technical details and terms listed.
Both Mac and PC computers require the Quicktime plug-in to be present in your browser or on your computer.
Internet users note that some of these movies are large and will take some time to download depending on your connection speed.
DVD users can find Quicktime on the DVD or the latest version can be downloaded from here Quicktime
UNSW Embryology is for educational use only.
Please email Dr Mark Hill if you wish to make a comment about this current project.