Chapter 7: Fetal Period

Question 1

Fetal period

Answer 1

The period beginning from the 9th week till birth.

Question 2

How is the fetal period characterized?

Answer 2

1. Maturation of tissues and organs.
2. Rapid growth of the body.

Question 3

CRL

Answer 3

Crown-rump length. The length of the fetus is usually indicated as the CRL (sitting height).

Question 4

CHL

Answer 4

Crown-heel length. Measurement of the vertex of the skull to the heal (standing height).

Question 5

CRL and CHL

Answer 5

Correlated with the age of the fetus in weeks.

Question 6

CRL at the beginning of the 3rd month

Answer 6

Head is 1/2 of the CRL.

Question 7

CHL at the beginning of the 5th month

Answer 7

Head 1/3 of the CHL.

Question 8

CHL at birth

Answer 8

Head is 1/4 of CH length.

Question 9

Face becomes human looking at

Answer 9

During the 3rd month.

Question 10

Limbs become longer at

Answer 10

The 3rd month.

Question 11

External genitalia are differentiated at

Answer 11

The end of the 3rd month.

Question 12

Lanugo hair covers the fetus at

Answer 12

Starting from the 4th month.

Question 13

Vernix caseosa

Answer 13

The skin of the fetus is covered by the fatty substance called vernix caseosa.

Question 14

Vernix caseosa at

Answer 14

The 5th month.

Question 15

Skin wrinklage until

Answer 15

The end of the 6th month.

Question 16

Why is the skin wrinkled?

Answer 16

Due to the absence of the subcutaneous fat.

Question 17

Testes descend to scrotum at

Answer 17

Just before birth.

Question 18

Fetal movements since

Answer 18

The 5th month.

Question 19

Duration of pregnancy

Answer 19

1. Starting from the first day of last menstruation: about 280 days (40 weeks).
2. After fertilization: 266 days (38 weeks). More accurate.