56 Fetal and Neonatal Physiology

Ervin E. Jones
Alan H. DeCherney
Growth of the fetus begins soon after fertilization, when the first cell division occurs. Cell division,
hypertrophy, and differentiation are highly coordinated events that result in the growth and development of
specialized organ systems. The fetus, fetal membranes, and placenta develop and function as a unit
throughout pregnancy, and their development is interdependent. The growth trajectory of fetal mass is
relatively flat during the first trimester, increases linearly at the beginning of the second trimester, and rises
rapidly during the third trimester.
Printed from STUDENT CONSULT: Medical Physiology (on 28 August 2006)
2006 Elsevier