Chapter 10: Diseases of Infancy and Childhood Flashcards
Primary errors of morphogenesis, in which there is an intrinsically abnormal developmental process defines?
Malformations
Secondary destruction of an organ or body region that was previously normal in development; thus arising from extrinsic disturbancs in morphogenesis defines what?
Classic example?
- Disruptions
- Amniotic bands, denoting rupture of amnion w/ resultant formation of “bands” that encircle, compress, or attach to parts of developing fetus
What is the most common underlying factor for the development of deformations in newborns?
Example of common deformation seen in Potter sequence?
- Uterine constraint: size of fetus outpaces the growth of uterus (35th-38th week)
- Deformations are caused by abnormal biomechanical forces
- Club feet is deformation seen in Potter sequence
What is the classic example of a sequence?
Due to what and what abnormalities are produced?
- Oligohydramnios (Potter) sequence
- Decreased amniotic fluid –> flattened facies and positional abnormalities of hands and feet; dislocated hips; hypoplastic lungs
- Nodules (amnion nodosum) in the amnion of frequently present

Malformations, disruptions, or deformations that set into motion secondary effects in other organs is known as?
A sequence = cascade of anomalies triggered by one initiating aberration
A constellation of congenital anomalies, believe to be pathologically related, but cannot be explained on the basis of a single, localized, initiating defect defines what?
Malformation syndrome
What is frequently present in Oligohydramnios (or Potter) sequence?
Nodules in the amnion (amnion nodosum)

Differentiate agenesis from aplasia
Agenesis: complete absence of an organ AND its associated primordium (absent primordium)
Aplasia: absence of an organ but one that occurs due to failure of growth of the existing primordium (primordium exists)
What are the most common microbes to cause congenital abnormalities during development? (hint: mnemonic = TORCH)
T - Toxoplasmosis
O - Other - Syphillis
R - Rubella
C - CMV
H - Herpes/HIV
Maternal hyperglycemia-induced fetal hyperinsulinemia results in what disorders in the fetus? (Diabetic embryopathy)
- Macrosomia (organomegaly and increased body fat and muscle mass)
- Cardiac anomalies
- Neural tube defects
- CNS malformations
*The major defects in diabetic embryopathy
What 7 drugs/chemicals have been known to cause congenital anomalies in humans?
1) Alcohol
2) Folic acid antagonists
3) Androgens
4) Phenytoin
5) Thalidomide
6) Warfarin
7) 13-cis-retinoic acid
What is the most common genetic cause of congenital malformations?
What common malformations are included in this category?
- Multifactorial inheritance
- Cleft lip, cleft palate, and neural tube defects
Major morphological abnormalities occur during which weeks of embryonic development?
Weeks 3-7

Between which weeks is the embryo extremely susceptible to teratogenesis?
Peak sensitivity when?
- Extremely sensitive = Weeks 3-9
- Peak sensitivity = 4-5th week

Teratogens during the 4th and 5th weeks of gestation affect every body system except for?
Teeth, palate, and genitalia

The antiepileptic drugs, Valprotic acid, disrupts expression of what developmentally critical TF?
Causes what?
- Disrupts HOX proteins that help limb pattern development, vertebrae, and craniofacial structures
- Mutations in the HOX family of genes are responsible for congenital anomalies that mimic features observed in valproic acid embryopathy
Thalidomide, once used as a tranquilizer in Europe, causes an extremely high incidence of?
Limb malformations
Infants born to mothers treated with retinoic acid for severe acne have which predictable phenotype (retinoic acid embryopathy)?
CNS, cardiac, and craniofacial defects (cleft lip and cleft palate)
The craniofacial defects (cleft lip and palate) which result from retinoid acid embryopathy are a result of?
Retinoic acid-mediated deregulation of the TGF-B signaling pathway
What defines prematurity?
Second most common cause of?
- Gestational age less than 37 weeks
- Second most common cause of neonatal mortality
What are the 4 risk factors associated with prematurity?
1) PPROM (before 37 weeks = most serious)
2) Intrauterine infections (major cause)
3) Structural abnormalities (uterine, placental, and cervical)
4) Multiple gestations (twin pregnancy)
What are the most common microorganisms implicated in intrauterine infections leading to preterm labor?
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Mycoplasma hominis
- Gardnerella vaginalis
- Trichomonas
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
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What is the molecular mechanism by which intrauterine infections induce preterm labor?
- Endogenous TLRs bind bacterial compounds
- Produce signals which deregulate prostaglandin expression, in turn producing smooth muscle contractions
Which fetal conditions cause Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR)?
Infections by what agents?
- Chromosomal disorders,
- Congenital anomalies
- Congenital infections (TORCH = most commonly responsible)














