Talk:Fetal Development

2010

The quality of fetal arm movements as indicators of fetal stress

Early Hum Dev. 2010 Oct 12. [Epub ahead of print]

Reissland N, Francis B.

Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Science Site, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK. Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although a number of studies have found that maternal stress affects the fetus, it is unclear whether jerky fetal movements observed on ultrasound scans are indicative of fetal stress, or whether they are part of normal development.

AIMS: The present study was designed to examine the relationship between jerky fetal arm movements in relation to fetal age and stress.

METHODS: Video recordings were made of routine ultrasound scans of 57 fetuses (age range 8 to 33weeks) classified into three age groups: 1st trimester (8-12weeks, N=9), 2nd trimester (13-24weeks, N=38), and 3rd trimester (26-33weeks, N=10). Following previous research on stress behaviour in neonates, a fetal index of stress was derived from frequency of hiccup, back arch and rhythmical mouthing.

RESULTS: Results indicated that while stress level was unrelated to fetal age, jerkiness of arm movements was significantly associated with the fetal stress index but not age.

PMID: 20947272

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17151152

Myelination occurs rapidly in the first year of life and overall adult patterns are present at age 2 years.

Effect of trihalomethane exposure on fetal development. Wright JM, Schwartz J, Dockery DW. Occup Environ Med. 2003 Mar;60(3):173-80. PMID: 12598663

Lifetime consequences of abnormal fetal pancreatic development. Holemans K, Aerts L, Van Assche FA. J Physiol. 2003 Feb 15;547(Pt 1):11-20. Epub 2003 Jan 17. Review. PMID: 12562919 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2342610/?tool=pubmed

Development of the innervation and airway smooth muscle in human fetal lung

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10100986

Human and porcine fetal airways have been shown to contract spontaneously from the first trimester, the latter also contracting in response to neural stimulation. Our object was to map immunohistochemically the innervation and its relationship to the airway smooth muscle (ASM) in the human fetal lung from early gestation to the postnatal period. Whole mounts of the bronchial tree were stained with antibodies to the pan-neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5, the Schwann cell marker S-100, and the ASM contractile protein alpha-actin, and imaged using confocal microscopy. By the end of the embryonic period (53 d gestation), the branching epithelial tubules in the primordial lung were covered with ASM to the base of the terminal sacs. An extensive plexus of nerve trunks containing nerve bundles, forming ganglia, and Schwann cells ensheathed the ASM. By 16 wk (canalicular stage), maturation of the innervation was advanced with two major nerve trunks running the length of the bronchial tree, giving rise to varicosed fibers lying on the ASM. An extensive nerve plexus in the mucosa was also present. The distal airways of infants who had died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome were also covered with smooth muscle and were well innervated. Thus, an essentially complete coat of ASM and an abundant neural plexus ensheathing the airways are an integral part of the branching epithelial tubules from early in lung development.

Various Fetal Parameters

Cetin E, Malas MA, Albay S, Cankara N. Abstract The development of stomach during the fetal period. Surg Radiol Anat. 2006 Oct;28(5):438-46. Epub 2006 Aug 12. PMID: 16906359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 7:

Malas MA, Ungör B, Tağil SM, Sulak O. Abstract Determination of dimensions and angles of mandible in the fetal period. Surg Radiol Anat. 2006 Aug;28(4):364-71. Epub 2006 Mar 28. PMID: 16568218 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 8:

Vlajković S, Vasović L, Daković-Bjelaković M, Cukuranović R. Abstract Age-related changes of the human fetal kidney size. Cells Tissues Organs. 2006;182(3-4):193-200. PMID: 16914921 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 9:

Albay S, Malas MA, Cetin E, Cankara N, Karahan N. Abstract Development of the liver during the fetal period. Saudi Med J. 2005 Nov;26(11):1710-5. PMID: 16311653 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 10:

Sari A, Ahmetoglu A, Dinc H, Saglam A, Kurtoglu U, Kandemir S, Gümele HR. Abstract Fetal biometry: size and configuration of the third ventricle. Acta Radiol. 2005 Oct;46(6):631-5. PMID: 16334847 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 11:

Vignolo M, Ginocchio G, Parodi A, Torrisi C, Pistorio A, Venturini PL, Aicardi G, De Biasio P. Abstract Fetal spine ossification: the gender and individual differences illustrated by ultrasonography. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2005 Jun;31(6):733-8. PMID: 15936488 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 12:

Uysal II, Karabulut AK, Salbacak A, Büyükmumcu M, Seker M. Abstract Correlation between developmental stages of the human heart and gestational ages. Saudi Med J. 2005 Apr;26(4):531-6. PMID: 15900354 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 13:

Lampl M, Kuzawa CW, Jeanty P. Abstract Growth patterns of the heart and kidney suggest inter-organ collaboration in facultative fetal growth. Am J Hum Biol. 2005 Mar-Apr;17(2):178-94. PMID: 15736176 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 14:

Al Atawi F, Warsy A, Babay Z, Addar M. Abstract Fetal sex and leptin concentrations in pregnant females. Ann Saudi Med. 2005 Mar-Apr;25(2):124-8. PMID: 15977690 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 15:

Vlajković S, Daković-Bjelaković M, Cukuranović R, Popović J. Abstract Evaluation of absolute volume of human fetal kidney's cortex and medulla during gestation. Vojnosanit Pregl. 2005 Feb;62(2):107-11. PMID: 15787163 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 16:

Perni SC, Predanic M, Cho JE, Kalish RB, Chasen ST. Abstract Association of amniotic fluid index with estimated fetal weight. J Ultrasound Med. 2004 Nov;23(11):1449-52; quiz 1453. PMID: 15498909 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]