PERIODS OF FETAL GROWTH

&DEV’T

• pre – embryonic (1 2
st

wks, beginning with

fertilization)
• embryonic (3 – 8 wks)
• fetal (8 wks – birth)
 TERMS TO DESCRIBE FETAL
GROWTH
• OVUM – from ovulation to fertilization
• ZYGOTE – from fertilization to
implantation
• EMBRYO – from implantation to 5-8 weeks
• FETUS – from 5-8 weeks until term
• CONCEPTUS – developing embro and
placental structures throughout pregnancy
• AGE OF VIABILITY – the earlier
age at which fetuses survive if they
are born is generally accepted is 24
weeks or at the point a fetus weighs
more than 500 – 600 grams
OVUM
ZYGOTE
CONCEPTUS
FERTILIZATION
• fusion of a sperm and an ovum
requiring 24 hours
• conception, impregnation,
fecundation
• occurs in the outer third of a
fallopian tube, the ampullar
section
Sperms reach ovum and cluster
around it
Only one sperm is allowed to
penetrate egg
 2 cell zygote

The zygote begins 4 cell zygote

to develop
When the sperm penetrates the
egg, the egg immediately
releases a chemical creating a
hard “shell” around it to keep
all other sperm out

72 HOURS
 total critical time span during
which fertilization may occur
 48 – 72 HOURS
 life span of sperm cells
 24 HOURS
 life span of egg cells
•
ZYGOTE
• first cell of human body
formed from the fertilization
of sperm and ovum
• 46 chromosomes (23 pairs);
44 autosomes and 2 gametes
• journeys from fallopian tube to
the uterus – 3-4 days
• 24° after fertilization , undergoes
first cell division and subsequent
cell divisions occur after every 22
hours
8 cell zygote 16 cell morulla
Blastocyst – When zygote divides to 32 cells it
becomes known as a Blastocyst
BLASTOCYST
• ball-like structure composed of an
inner cell mass called embryonic
disc or blastocoele, occupying one
of its poles and an outer layer of
rapidly developing cells called
trophoblasts or trophoderm
•
Cross Section of a Blastocyst
 The Blastocyst
Blastocyst
embeds into
the uterine
lining, and
begins to
develop the
Uterine lining placenta
The placenta is the
lining of the uterus that
the umbilical cord will
attach to.

While nutrients and

oxygen move across the
placental wall, the
embryo’s blood and the
mother’s blood never
mix
 The Blastocyst begins to collapse

Day 15 Day 17
The primitive The primitive streak
streak can be can still be seen, and
seen on the left the opposite end of the
side of this embryo is starting to
embryo. fold up.
 Day 19
The neural tube is seen along with somites on either side of it.

Somites - zipper-like motion of the neural tube closing together,

three pairs of small bumps form on either side of the closure.
they will form the skeleton and the major muscles of the body.
Thirty-eight pairs of somites will line the neural tube within 2
weeks.
 Day 24

Day 22
Day 26

Day 28
5 Week Embryo

5 Week, 4 day Embryo

BLASTOCOELE

• gives rise to three primary germ

layers:
• ectoderm
• entoderm
• mesoderm
ECTODERM
• first germ layer to develop
• gives rise to the ff:
• skin
• hair
• nails
• sense organs
• nervous system
• mucous membranes of the mouth and anus
ENTODERM
• gives rise to the:
• bladder
• lining of the gastrointestinal tract
• tonsils
• thyroid gland
• respiratory system
MESODERM
• blast germ layer to develop
• gives rise to the:
• kidney
• musculoskeletal (bones & muscles)
• reproductive system
• cardiovascular system (heart and
blood vessels)
 TROPHODERM LAYER
• gives rise to the ff:
• placenta
• fetal membranes
• umbilical cord
• amniotic fluid
 FUNCTIONS:
• absorb nutrients from the
endometrium
• secrete the hormone human
chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
necessary in prolonging the life of
the corpus luteum
 IMPLANTATION
• blastocyst implants in the endometrium
approximately 6 – 7 days after fertilization
• burrowing into the endometrium is called
nidation
• ideal site – fundal portion
• IMPLANTATION BLEEDING
• small spots of blood
• spotting
EMBRYONIC &
FETAL
STRUCTURES
DECIDUA
 term for the endometrium after
implantation
• specialized endometrium of
pregnancy
• “to cast off” or “to discard”
• cast off in a vaginal discharge -
LOCHIA
 FUNCTIONS:
• most ideal site for implantation
• provides easy access to the birth of
the baby at the end of gestation as it
is continuous with the birth canal
• prevent infections coming from the
vagina and cervix
• produces the ff: hormones
• prolactin
• relaxin
• corticotropin releasing hormone
• growth hormones
• prostaglandin
• oxytocin
• endothelin -1
•
•
•
 3 LAYERS OF THE DECIDUA
• decidua vera
• located under decidua basalis
• remaining portion of the
uterine lining
• uterine lining exclusive of the
area engrossed by the embryo
• part of the endometrium not
directly associated with the
development of the embryo
• decidua basalis
• part of the endometrium
lining directly under the
embryo
•portion where the trophoblast
cells are establishing
communication with maternal
blood vessels
• portion of the decidua vera
where nidation takes place
area where chorionic
villi(frondosum) invade the
maternal blood vessels and develop
into placenta
• layer where implantation takes
place , later form the maternal side
of the placenta
• decidua capsularis
• portion of the decidua vera that
covers the blastocyst after nidation
occurs, isolating it from the other
portions of the uterus
• it appears to fuse with the chorion,
fetal membrane as pregnancy
advances
• portion of the endometrium that
stretches or encapsulates the
surface of the trophoblast
• layer which enclose the blastocyst
after implantation
 CHORIONIC VILLI
• as early as 11th or 12th day after
implantation, miniature villi, or
probing “fingers”
• reach out from the single layer of
cells into the uterine endometrium
CHORIONIC VILLI
• classified into:
• chorion frondosum
• chorionic villi in contact with
the decidua basalis that
proliferate rapidly because they
receive rich blood supply from
the uterus
responsible for absorbing nutrients
and oxygen from maternal blood
stream and disposing of fetal waste
products including carbon dioxide
 chorion laeve
 not involved in implantation that
gradually degenerates, becoming very and
eventually forming the chorionic
membrane
 referred to as bald chorion
 composed of cytotrophoblasts and fetal
mesodermal cells
 Layers of the chorionic villi
 SYNCYTIAL OR
SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLAST
 instrumental in the production of various
placental hormones :
 hCG
 HPL
 estrogen
 progesterone
• LANGHANS OR
CYTOTROPHOBLAST
• inner layer
• present as early as 12 days
gestation
• protect the growing embryo and
fetus from certain infectious
organisms such as spirochete of
syphilis
• disappears between the 20th – 24th
week
FETAL MEMBRANES
• enclose the fetus and the
amniotic fluid, and protect
the fetus against bacterial
infection as long as it is not
ruptured
• composed of two membranes:
• chorionic membrane or chorion
• evolved from chorion laeve
(smooth chorion)
• thick, opaque and friable
• outermost fetal membrane
• once it becomes smooth, it offers support
to the sac that contains the amniotic fluid
amniotic membrane or
amnion
Inner membrane
 blends with the fetal
umbilical cord or funis
•smooth, thin, tough and translucent
membrane directly enclosing the fetus
and the amniotic fluid covers the fetal
surface of the placenta
 outer covering of the
umbilical cord
 produces the amniotic
fluid
itproduces a phospholipid that
initiates the formation of
prostaglandins, which cause
uterine contractions and may be
the trigger that initiates labor
AMNIOTIC FLUID
• is the medium in which the fetus
and the cord float inside the
amniotic membrane
• 350 -500 ml is produced and
replaced each hour (formed and
reabsorbed)
• fetus constantly swallows and absorbed
across the fetal intestine into the fetal
bloodstream; from there, umbilical
arteries exchange it across the placenta
• at term, ranges from 800 – 1200 ml
• hydramnios – more than 2000 ml
(diabetic mothers)
• oligohydramnios – less than 300 ml
(disturbance of kidney function)
• neutral to slightly alkaline with
a pH of 7.0 -7.25
• clear and colorless to straw
colored
• specific gravity – 1.005 – 1.025
 FUNCTIONS
1. important protective mechanism
• of the fetus from trauma, blows and
pressure
• shields against pressure or a blow to
the mother’s abdomen
• of the fetus from uterine contractions
•of the fetus from sudden changes
in temperature
• liquid changes temperature more
slowly than air
 of the cord from pressure
▪ protecting fetal oxygenation
2.promotes symmetrical
musculoskeletal development
 allows freedom of movement
3. acts as an excretion and
secretion system
4. source of oral fluid for the
fetus who swallows it
5.aids in the diagnosis of
maternal and fetal
complications through
amniocentesis
6. assist in labor by:
 intact membranes aids in effacement and
dilatation of the cervix
 once it ruptures, the fluid washes the
birth canal and serves as antiseptic
 acts as lubricant making the birth canal
more slippery for the passage of the fetus
 ABNORMALITIES
• green tinged or meconium stained
in nonbreech presentation
• fetal distress
• golden colored
• hemolytic disease such as RH or
ABO incompatibility
• gray colored
• infection
• bloody at the time of rupture
• vasa previa
• brownish, coffee or tea colored
• fetal death (IUFD)
UMBILICAL
CORD
• formed from fetal membranes
• provides a circulatory pathway
that connects the embryo to the
chorionic villi of the placenta
•carry Oxygen &nutrients from the
placenta to the fetus and return
unoxygenated blood and blood and
fetal waste products to the placenta
• two arteries which carry
unoxygenated blood to the
placenta & one vein which
carries oxygenated blood to the
fetus (AVA)
• 50 – 55 cm long & 2cm in diameter
• made up of gelatinous
mucopolysaccharide – Wharton’s jelly
PLACENTA
• formed from chorionic villi
and decidua basalis
• weighs 500 gm at term
• “pancake”
•maternal side – composed of 15 – 20
cotyledons
• fetal side amnion that covers it gives it
a white and shiny appearance
• serves as fetal lungs, kidneys &
gastrointestinal tract and separate
endocrine organ throughout
pregnancy
• covers about half the surface area
of the internal uterus
• Mechanism of transport of nutrients
• diffusion – CO2, O2, fetal waste products,
Na, Cl and fat soluble vitamins
• facilitated diffusion – glucose
• active transport – amino acids and
water soluble vitamins, Fe, Ca and
Iodine
• pinocytosis – gammaglobulin (IgG),
lipoproteins and phospholipids
• serves as transfer organ for
metabolic products
• produces or metabolizes the
hormones and enzymes necessary in
the maintenance of pregnancy
• after 40 – 42 weeks, degenerates with
functional capacity diminishing oxygen
capacity – shrinks and functions less
effectively
• respiratory system
• exchange of gases takes place (diffusion)
• renal system
• waste products are excreted and
detoxified in mother’s liver (diffusion)
• gastrointestinal system
• nutrients pass from placenta to fetus
(active transport and diffusion)
• production of enzymes
• oxytocinase, monoamino oxidase,
insulinase, histaminase, heat stable
alkaline phosphatase

•
• circulatory system
• feto-placental circulation is functional 17
days after fertilization
• blood flow – 500ml/min
• hgb 17.1 g/100ml; hct 53%
• abnormally adherent placenta
• Placenta accreta – chorionic villi
penetrate deeply and are firmly
attached in the decidua basalis or
myometrium
•placenta increta – penetrate
and invade deeply into the
myometrium
• placenta percreta – penetrate
through the myometrium to the
peritoneum covering the uterus