Pre-Natal Period

Stages of Pre-natal Development

 Human Life begins at

Conception
 Conception

• The union of a male

sperm cell and a
female egg cell to
form a new
organism.
 Stages of Pre-Natal Development
Divided into three periods:

– germinal period

– embryonic period

– fetal period
Germinal Period
 Germinal Period
• Happens 2 weeks after conception

Includes:
• creation of the zygote;
• continued cell division; and
• the attachment of the zygote to the uterine
wall
 Germinal Period
• Rapid cell division
• By the end of the stage, the
fertilized egg becomes a
blastocyst and plants itself in the
wall of the uterus.
Germinal period
 Germinal Period
24 to 30 hours after
fertilization
 Germinal Period
36 hours after
fertilization
 Germinal Period
48 hours after
fertilization
(2 days)
 Germinal Period
72 hours after
fertilization
(3 days)
 Germinal Period
96 hours after
fertilization
(4 days)
 Germinal Period
4 to 5 days
 Germinal Period
6 to 7 days
 Germinal Period
11 to 15 days
Embryonic Period
 Embryonic Period
• Happens 2 to 8 weeks after conception
• Zygote becomes Embryo
 Embryonic Period

• cell differentiation
intensifies
• life-support systems for
the embryo develop
• organs appear
 Embryonic Period

• At the end of four weeks:

– Embryo is 1/4 inch in length
– Heart, digestive system, backbone and
spinal cord begin to form
– Placenta (sometimes called
"afterbirth") begins developing
– The single fertilized egg is now 10,000
times larger than size at conception
 Embryonic Period

6 Weeks 7 Weeks 8 Weeks

 Embryonic Period
• At the end of 8 weeks:
– Embryo is 1 1/8 inches in length
– Eyes, nose, lips, tongue, ears and teeth are
forming
– Embryo is moving, although the
mother can not yet feel movement
– Heart is functioning
 Embryonic Period
• Organogenesis
– the process of organ formation
during the first two months of pre-
natal development
 Embryonic Period
• As these three layers form (endoderm,
ectoderm, mesoderm), the support system
for the embryo develop rapidly which are
the:
– placenta
– umbilical cord
– amnion
Embryonic Period
Embryonic Period
Embryonic
Period
Fetal Period
 Fetal Period

• 2 to 7 months after
conception
• Growth and development
continue dramatically during
this period.
 Fetal Period
3 months after
conception
 Fetal Period
• fetus is about 3 inches long
• it has become more active by
moving its arms and legs,
opens and closes its mouth,
and move its head
• the genitals can now be
identified as male or female
 Fetal Period
• the following are distinguished:
– face
– forehead
– eyelids
– nose
– chin
– upper and lower arms
– hands
– lower limbs
 Fetal Period

• fetus is about 6 inches long

• stronger pre-natal reflexes
• first arm and feet movement
are felt by the mother
 Fetal Development

• fetus is about 12 inches

long
• structures of the skin have
formed
• fetus is more active
 Fetal Period
• Fetus is about 14 inches long
• eyes and eyelids are completely
formed
• fine layer of hair covers the head
• grasping reflex present and
irregular movements occur
 Fetal Development
• Fetus is 16 inches long
• Taste buds have developed
• Fat layers are forming
• Organs are maturing
• Skin is still wrinkled and red
• If born at this time, he/she will be
considered a premature baby and
require special care
 Fetal Development
• Fetus is 19 to 20 inches long
• The lungs are mature
• Baby is now fully developed and can
survive outside the mother's body
• Skin is pink and smooth
• He/she settles down lower in the
abdomen in preparation for birth and
may seem less active
 End
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Copyright © 2014
Christian F. Sebastian