COBINE FETAL PHYSIO Flashcards
What is the weight change of the kid during the pregnancy?
first 3 months unnoticeable
last 2 months, 2 lbs gained per month!
What is the length change of the kid during the pregnancy?
the length increases steadily throughout the pregnancy
When does the heart start beating? What is its rate at this point?
@ 26 days
65 beats per minutes
The heart rate increases until it gets to _____ right before delivery.
140 beats per minute
Where are nucleated blood cells formed in the kid?
nucleated RBCs are only formed in the 3rd week from the yolk sac & mesothelial layer of the placenta
After the 3rd week…what happens to the kid’s blood supply?
4-6 weeks: non-nucleated RBCs formed in the liver (then spleen)
In the 3rd or 4th month until birth there is another shift in RBC production. Where are they formed now?
bone marrow forms it in addition to the liver & spleen
After birth what are the sources of RBC production?
only the bone marrow after birth
What is the significance of the mnemonic Young Liver Synthesizes Blood?
Y: Yolk Sac
L: liver
S: spleen
B: bone marrow
When do respiratory movements first begin in the kid?
during the 1st trimester
When do respiratory movements end in the kid? What is the purpose of halting this?
inhibited in the last trimester
**to prevent debris from meconium from entering the lungs
What do the baby lungs secrete to stay clean?
the alveolar epithelium secretes fluids to keep the airways clean…
When do skin reflexes begin in the fetus?
@ 3-4 months
T/F The development of the cerebral cortex is complete at birth.
False. the higher function of the cerebral cortex is still underdeveloped @ birth
When does the kid complete the myelinization of the tracts of his nervous system?
this takes 1 year to complete
What is the brain mass of the kid @ birth, 1 year, 2 years?
Birth: 26% of the adult brain
1 year: 55% of the adult brain
2 years: 80% of the adult brain
What is the substance that is excreted by the fetus?
meconium
Describe the GI development in utero.
@4.5 months: fetus ingests & absorbs large quantities of amniotic fluid
@6-7 months: GI fcn approximates that of a newborn
When do the fetal kidneys start developing?
@ the 5th week of gestation
When do the fetal kidneys begin excreting urine?
b/w 1st & 2nd trimesters: b/w 3-4 months gestation
The kidneys help with an electrolyte/fluid balance. When does this fcn begin with the fetal kidneys? When is this fcn fully developed?
after 4.5 months
takes months after birth to fully develop
What is the timeline for organ system development?
1st month: organ systems are all outlined, not fully developed
2nd & 3rd months: important times for development
4th month: organ systems very similar to a newborn–>still undergoes cellular development until birth
What are the systems that aren’t fully developed @ birth?
nervous system
kidneys
liver
When is the critical period? What is this all about?
1st trimester
- *during this time organ systems are rapidly developing & highly susceptible to teratogens
- *also women often don’t know they are pregnant until a few months in…could have been drinking alcohol & causing damage.
Some important substances build up in the fetus during the gestational period. What are 3 important substances that build up? List them in order of most accumulated–>least accumulated.
Most accumulated: iron calcium phosphorus Least accumulated
When does most of this accumulate?
most of it accumulates in the last month of the gestational period.
Does the buildup of calcium in the fetus drain the mother or compromise her bone health?
Not really b/c only represents 1/50th of the mother’s calcium content. But…during breastfeeding it often can.
Why does the fetus need so much iron accumulation?
b/c @ 3 weeks it starts making RBCs–>needs it for the hemoglobin.
Also, 1/3 of the accumulated iron is stored in the liver for future formation of hemoglobin.
What are the most important vitamins for the fetus?
Vitamin B Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K
Why is Vitamin B important for the fetus?
Vit B12 & folic acid vital b/c it helps w/ RBC production
Why is Vitamin C so important for the fetus?
helps w/ bone matrix & CT fiber formation
Why is Vitamin D so important for the fetus?
helps w/ calcium uptake–vital for bone growth
Why is Vitamin E so vital for the fetus?
maintains normal development in the early embryo
prevents spontaneous abortions
Why is Vitamin K so important for the fetus?
formation of blood coagulation factors in the liver: like factor VII & prothrombin
prevents hemorrhage
Where does the baby get its Vit K source from?
the mom b/c it comes from bacterial action in the colon
When does normal respiration start happening in a newborn? How long can a baby not breathe before brain damage starts occurring? How long can a baby not breathe before he dies?
usu within seconds
8-10 minutes w/o breathing: permanent brain damage
10-15 minutes w/o breathing: death (adults die in 4 min–>those little guys are resilient)!
What is it that prompts a normal respiratory rhythm in a newborn?
the low O2 from the birthing process & the cool temp on the skin of the new environment
**if don’t breathe right–>prompted to do so by increasing CO2 & decreasing O2 in their bodies.
What does delayed & abnormal breathing lead to? What are some things that can cause this?
Hypoxia! umbilical cord compression premature placental separation excessive contraction of the uterus excessive anesthesia
What are the specific dangers of hypoxia to the child?
depression of the respiratory center
lesions in the thalamus, inferior colliculi, parts of brainstem
**affects motor functions of the body
What is the fcn of the thalamus? Inferior colliculi?
Thalamus: regulates consciousness & sleep
Inferior Colliculi: auditory fcns