Chapter 2 - Prenatal D'vnt and the Newborn Period

Question 1

What do all humans originate from the union of?

Answer 1

2 gametes (1 egg from mom and 1 sperm from dad)

Question 2

What are gametes formed through?
How much DNA do they have?

Answer 2

• meiosis
• 23 chromosomes each which creates 23 pairs once united during conception

Question 3

Describe the process of reproduction.

Answer 3

• egg launched from the ovary into fallopian tube
• egg is released and 500 mill sperm enter vagina

Question 4

What is a fertilized egg called?

Answer 4

a zygote

Question 5

Why is there a high failure rate of sperm during reproduction?

Answer 5

• genetic defects
• survival of the fittest (a long journey to the egg)

Question 6

What are the 3 periods of the prenatal phase, how long is each?

Answer 6

• Germinal period (conception - 2nd week)
• Embryonic period (3rd - 8th week)
• Fetal period (9th week - 39th week/ birth)

Question 7

Which prenatal period is there the most rapid development during?

Answer 7

embryonic period

Question 8

What are the 4 developmental processes in the germinal period?

Answer 8

• cell division
• cell migration
• cell differentiation
• cell death (apoptosis)

Question 9

When does hormonal influence start in the prenatal period?

Answer 9

• week 8 (germinal period)
• they’re important for cell differentiation

Question 10

What is the difference between identical and fraternal twins in early cell development?

Answer 10

Identical twins:
- cells divide with same genetic material

Fraternal twins:
- two eggs are fertilized

Question 11

What are some important support systems in prenatal development? What do these structures do?

Answer 11

• amniotic sac: protects fetus
• placenta: transports nutrients and expells waste
  
  • semipermeable membrane
• umbilical cord: blood vessels connecting fetus to placenta/mom

Question 12

Describe some initial fetal movement behaviors.

Answer 12

• spontaneous movements (5 weeks after conceptions)
• initial jerkiness becomes more integrated
• by 12 weeks, most movements present at birth have appeared

Question 13

What are some important forms of movement for a fetus?

Answer 13

• Swallowing: helps palate and digestion d’vt
• breathing
• burping
• yawning
• hiccups

Question 14

Describe a fetus’s visual and tactile experience.

Answer 14

• minimal visual experience
• more tactile experience

Question 15

Describe a fetus’s taste experience

Answer 15

• flavors in amniotic fluid
• taste sensitivity
• fetal preferences (prefer sweet fluid)

Question 16

Describe a fetus’s smell experience.

Answer 16

• amniotic fluid smells may vary depending on what mother ingests

Question 17

Describe a fetus’s hearing experience.

Answer 17

• external sounds are audible to fetus
• mostly hear mother’s bodily sounds
• respond to sounds by 6 months

Question 18

What is fetal habituation? What does it measure?

Answer 18

• the decrease response to repeated or continued stimulation
• measures learning

Question 19

What’s another term for miscarriage?

Answer 19

spontaneous abortion

Question 20

What is the leading cause of miscarriages?

Answer 20

genetic deficits

Question 21

What is a teratogen?

Answer 21

an environmental agent that has the potential to cause harm during prenatal development

Question 22

What is a crucial factor in the severity of the effects of exposure to teratogens?

Answer 22

the timing of exposure in the prenatal development timeline

Question 23

What is the most sensitive period to be exposed to teratogens? Why?

Answer 23

the embryonic period
- the development of many important structures happens during this time