Revision as of 14:25, 11 October 2009

Fetal Development

Introduction

The fetal period (9-36 weeks) is about continued differentiation of organs and tissues, most importantly this period is about growth both in size and weight.

The long Fetal period (4x the embryonic period) is a time of extensive growth in size and mass as well as ongoing differentiation of organ systems established in the embryonic period and do so at different times. For example, the brain continues to grow and develop extensively during this period (and postnatally), the respiratory system differentiates (and completes only just before birth), the urogenital system further differentiates between male/female, endocrine and gastrointestinal tract begins to function.

Fetal length and weight changes

Textbooks

Human Embryology (3rd ed.) Larson Ch15: Fetal development and the Fetus as Patient p481-499
The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud
Color Atlas of Clinical Embryology (2nd ed.) Moore, Persaud and Shiota Ch3: 9th to 38th weeks of human development p50-68

Fetal Size

Fetal length change is greatest in the middle period (second trimester).

Fetal Weight

Fetal Neural

Fetal Cardiovascular

Fetal Genital

Abnormalities

Critical Periods

Fetal Origins Hypothesis

Maternal derived abnormalities relate to lifestyle, environment and nutrition and while some of these directly effect embryonic development. There is also growing evidence that some effects are more subtle and relate to later life health events. This theory is based on the early statistical analysis carried out by Barker of low birth weight data collected in the early 1900's in the south east of England which he then compared with these same babies later health outcomes. The theory was therefore originally called the "Barker Hypothesis" and has recently been renamed as "fetal origins" or "programming".

Glossary Links

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Course Content 2009

Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 25) Embryology 2009 Lecture 22. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/2009_Lecture_22

What Links Here?

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+Maternal derived abnormalities relate to lifestyle, environment and nutrition and while some of these directly effect embryonic development. There is also growing evidence that some effects are more subtle and relate to later life health events. This theory is based on the early statistical analysis carried out by Barker of low birth weight data collected in the early 1900's in the south east of England which he then compared with these same babies later health outcomes. The theory was therefore originally called the "Barker Hypothesis" and has recently been renamed as "fetal origins" or "programming".
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2009 Lecture 22: Difference between revisions