FETAL PERIOD

Department of Anatomy
Section of Gross AnatomyEmbryology

Fetal Period
From 9th week- birth
Characterized by:
Rapid body growth
Differentiation of tissues , organs
and systems
Less vulnerable to teratogens but
may interfere with growth and
normal functional development
especially of brain and eyes

Growth during the fetal

period
Increase in length
more in the first
half of pregnancy
5 cm/mo from 35th month

Increase in weight
greatest in second half
particularly the last
2.5 months of
pregnancy 50% of
total body weight is
gained

Fat deposited rapidly

in subcutaneous tissue
in last 6-8 weeks
(finishing period);
building up of tissues
and preparing systems
involved in transition
from intrauterine to
extrauterine
environments.

Estimation of Fetal age

Age of gestation
Naegeles rule use the LMP
Subtract 3 from the month
Add 7 to the date
LMP
May 15-17, 2008
5 -3
2

15
+7
22

EDD Feb. 22, 2009

Exercises:
LMP: April 5-9, 2008; PMP:
March 3-7,2008
EDC- January 12, 2009 A/G14-15 weeks
LMP: January 25-29,2008;PMP:
Dec. 23-27,2007
EDC- November 1, 2008 A/G24-25 weeks

9 week fetus

17 week Fetus
No subcutaneous fat
Thin skin
Quickening felt by
mother (20 wks in
primi)
Skin covered by
vernix caseosa
Fine hairs, lanugo at
20 weeks
At 20 wks, 15 cms
long and weighs500
gms
At 20 weeks, head is
1/3 of C-H length

25 week
fetus
Wrinkled skin
Lean body
Weight gain
starts
Eye
movement
start

36 weeks fetus
Deposition of
subcutaneous
fat
HC=AC

Fetus at birth
Weight 30003400 gms
Length 50
cms
Skull has the
largest
circumferenc
e

Preterm
babies 2037 weeks
Term babies
38-42 weeks
Post term
babies- more
than 42
weeks

IUGR
Babies who
weigh <10%
of the
expected
weight
depending on
the
gestational
age

Causes:
1. Smoking
2. Alcohol
intake
3. Drugs
4. Poor nutrition
5. Infections
6. Genetic
diseases

Procedures for Assessing Fetal

Status
By accepting the shelter of the uterus,
the fetus also takes the risk of maternal
disease or malnutrition and of
biochemical, immunological and
hormonal adjustment
George Corner, American embryologist

Ultrasonography
Amniocentesis
Alpha-fetoprotein assay
Chorionic villus sampling

Clinical Cases
1. A newly married 28 year old woman
consulted because of episodes of dizziness
and felt fetal kicks last June 30, 2008.
She has irregular menses, twice a year.
How will you solve for approximate EDC?
Approximate EDC- Nov. 17, 2008
2. A 42 year old pregnant woman is worried
that she might be carrying a fetus with
congenital anomalies. How could the status
of her fetus be obtained? What
chromosomal abnormality would most
likely be found?
Ultrasonography
Amniocentesis
Downs syndrome