Chapter 4

Question 1

Infertility

Answer 1

a couple’s inability to get pregnant after a year of trying to do so

Question 2

Artificial insemination

Answer 2

a method of conception that involves injecting sperm from a woman’s partner or from a donor into the uterus

Question 3

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

Answer 3

procedure in which several eggs are removed from a woman’s ovary, fertilized by sperm in a petri dish in the laboratory, then transferred to the woman’s uterus

Question 4

Germinal period

Answer 4

first phase of prenatal development, lasting about 2 weeks from conception until the developing organism becomes attached to the wall of the uterus

Question 5

Blastocyst

Answer 5

a hollow sphere of about 100 to 150 cells that the zygote forms by rapid cell division as it moves through the Fallopian tube

Question 6

Miscarriage

Answer 6

loss of pregnancy before survival of the baby outside the womb is possible

Question 7

Embryonic period

Answer 7

second phase of prenatal development, lasting from the third through the eighth prenatal week, during which major organs and anatomical structures begin to develop

Question 8

Organogenesis

Answer 8

the process, occurring during the period of the embryo, in which every major organ takes shape in a primitive form

Question 9

Amnion

Answer 9

a watertight membrane that surrounds the developing embryo, regulating its temperature and cushioning it against injuries

Question 10

Chorion

Answer 10

a membrane that surrounds the amnion and becomes attached to the uterine lining to gather nourishment for the embryo

Question 11

Placenta

Answer 11

an organ, formed from the chorion and the lining of the uterus, that provides for the nourishment of the unborn child and the elimination of its metabolic wastes

Question 12

Spina bifida

Answer 12

condition in which the bottom of the neural tube fails to fully close during prenatal development and part of the spinal cord is not fully encased in the protective covering of the spinal column

Question 13

Anencephaly

Answer 13

condition in which the top of the neural tube fails to close and the main portion of the brain stem fails to develop properly

Question 14

Testosterone

Answer 14

the most important of the male hormones, or androgen; essential for normal sexual development during the prenatal period and at puberty

Question 15

Fetal period

Answer 15

the third phase of the prenatal development, lasting from the ninth prenatal week until birth; during this period, the major organ systems begin to function effectively and the fetus grows rapidly

Question 16

Differentiation

Answer 16

in the brain development, the progressive diversification of cells that results in their taking on different characteristics and functions

Question 17

Age of viability

Answer 17

a point (around 24th prenatal week) when a fetus may survive outside the uterus if the brain and respiratory system are well enough developed and if excellent medical care is available

Question 18

Myelin

Answer 18

a fatty sheath that insulates neural axons and thereby speeds the transmission of neural impulses

Question 19

Prenatal environment

Answer 19

the physical environment of the womb

Question 20

Teratogen

Answer 20

any disease, drug, or other environmental agent that can harm a developing fetus

Question 21

Critical period

Answer 21

a defined period in the development of an organism when it is particularly sensitive to certain environmental influences; outside this period, the same influences will have far less effect

Question 22

Thalidomide

Answer 22

a mild tranquilizer that, taken early in pregnancy, can produce a variety of malformations of the limbs, eyes, ears, and heart

Question 23

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Answer 23

the death of a sleeping baby because of a failure of the respiratory system; linked to maternal smoking

Question 24

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Answer 24

a group of symptoms commonly observed in the offspring of mothers who use alcohol heavily during pregnancy, including a small head, thin upper lips, widely spread eyes, and mental retardation.

Question 25

Rubella

Answer 25

a disease that has little effect on a pregnant woman but may cause several serious birth defects, such as blindness, deafness, and mental retardation, in unborn children exposed in the first 3 to 4 months of gestation; German measles

Question 26

Syphilis

Answer 26

a common sexually transmitted disease that may cross the placental barrier in the middle and later stages of pregnancy, causing miscarriage or serious birth defects

Question 27

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Answer 27

the life threatening disease in which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) destroys the immune system and makes victims susceptible to rare, so-called opportunistic, infections that eventually kill them. It is transmitted through sexual activity, drug needle sharing, and from mother to child before or during birth

Question 28

Still birth

Answer 28

fetal death that occurs late pregnancy when survival outside the womb would normally have been possible

Question 29

Lamaze method

Answer 29

prepared childbirth in which parents attend classes and learn mental exercises and relaxation techniques to ease delivery

Question 30

Perinatal environment

Answer 30

the environment surrounding birth

Question 31

Perinatologist

Answer 31

a maternal-fetal specialist who focuses on high-risk pregnancies

Question 32

Anoxia

Answer 32

a lack of sufficient oxygen to the brain that may result in neurological damage or death

Question 33

Breech presentation

Answer 33

a delivery in which the fetus emerges feet first or buttocks first rather than head first

Question 34

Cerebral palsy

Answer 34

a neurological disability caused by anoxia that is associated with difficulty controlling muscle movements

Question 35

Cesarean section

Answer 35

a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus so that the baby can be removed through the abdomen

Question 36

Postpartum depression

Answer 36

An episode of severe clinical depression lasting for months in a woman who has just given birth

Question 37

Couvade

Answer 37

Sympathetic pregnancy, or the experiencing by fathers of some of the same physiological symptoms their pregnant partners experience. Ex. Mourning sickness

Question 38

Neonatal

Answer 38

Pertaining to the events or developments in the first month after birth

Question 39

at risk

Answer 39

Children who have a higher than normal chance of either short-term or long-term problems because of genetic defects, prenatal hazards, or perinatal damage

Question 40

Apgar test

Answer 40

A test routinely used to asses a newborn’s heart rate, respiration, color, muscle tone, and reflexes immediately after birth and 5 minutes later

Question 41

low birth weight (LBW)

Answer 41

less than 2500 grams or 5.5 pounds

Question 42

surfactant

Answer 42

a substance that aids breathing by preventing the air sacs of the lungs from sticking together

Question 43

kangaroo care

Answer 43

Holding a young infant skin to skin on a parent’s chest; often used on premature babies to maintain temperature, heart rate, and oxygen levels