Fetal Development Flashcards
Embryo
<10 Week Gestation
Fetus
10 weeks to birth
Pre Term Baby
A baby is born <37 weeks gestation
Term Baby
A baby born between 38-42 weeks gestation
Post Term Baby
Baby is born after 42 weeks gestation
Trimesters
1st Trimester: < 12 weeks
2nd Trimester: 13-28 Weeks
3rd Trimester: > 28 Weeks
Process of Fertilization
- Sperm locates the egg
- Fertilization occurs
- Zygote travels to uterus
The blastocyst combines with what
The blastocyst will combine with tissues from the endometrium to form the chorionic membrane (outermost part of the fetal membrane
How does the amniotic sac form
The outer tissue will envelop the embryonic structure to form the amniotic sac
The amniotic sac will surround the entire embryo
Umbilical Stalk
The embryo attaches via the umbilical stalk which develops into the umbilical cord
Chorionic Villi
The umbilical cord connects to the finger-like projections in the outer lining of the chorion (chorionic villi)
The chorionic vili from the embryonic blastocyte will expand and grow to become the placenta
There will be two parts: Maternal compartement and Fetal Compartment
What are the different germ layers
Ectoderm
Mesoderm
Endoderm
Ectoderm
Outer layer
Central Nervous System: brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System: cranial nerves and spinal nerves
Sensory epithelia of the eyes, inner ears, and nose
Glandular Tissues: posterior pituitary gland, adrenal medulla
Mesoderm
Middle Layer
Cardiovascular System: Heart and Blood Vessels
Lymphatic system vessels
All Connective Tissue
All Muscle Tissue
Kidneys and ureters, spleen
The three major body cavities: pericardium, left and right pleura, and peritoneum
Serous linings of organs within the body cavities
ENDODERM
Innermost layer
Digestive System
Respiratory System: pharynx, lungs, and epithelial lining of the trachea and lungs
Embryonal Stage of Development
Will have the development of the trachea and major bronchi
Birth at this stage can result in laryngeal, tracheal, or esophageal atresia or stenosis
The baby will often be trached in order to have the trachea dilated
PSEUDOGLANDULAR PHASE
Development of remaining conducting airways
There is the incomplete development of the lungs characterized by an abnormally low number and/or size of bronchopulmonary segments and/or alveoli (hypoplasia) can develop
There will also be lung hypoplasia with diaphragmatic hernia
CANNICULAR PHASE
Development of vascular bed and framework of respiratory acini
When the fetus is born premature with inadequate developed airways with a surfactant deficiency (lack type II pneumocytes) will lead to RDS
SACCULAR PHASE
Increased complexity of saccules
ALVEOLAR PHASE
Development of alveoli
Stages of Human Intrauterine Lung Growth
- Embryonal
- Pseudoglandular
- Canalicular
- Saccular
- Alveolar
Post Birth
Alveoli and arterial support will continue to increase in size and number throughout infancy and childhood
More than 80% of the eventual total number of alveoli (~300 million) will form after birth
Alveolar growth will form mostly during the first year and a half
Infants will double in in body weight by 6 months and triple by 1 year
Oxygen uptake will increase proportionally
Factors Affecting Lung Development
Glucocoid Steroids
Twins
Maternal Diabetes
Decrease Amniotic Fluid
Factors Affecting Lung Development
Glucocorticoid Steroids
Accelerate lung maturation (Type II pneumocytes)
The steroid betamethasone may be given to mom if we are worried about a premature baby
Factors Affecting Lung Development
Maternal Diabetes
Slows lung tissue maturation
Pneumocyctes Analysis
Amniotic fluid can be analyzed for pneumocytes
Pneumocyctes Type I
Lays out the structure
Squamous cells
Thin flat membrane that is permeable to gas
97% of alveolar surface area
Pneumocyctes Type II
Surfactant production
Can differentiate and become type I cells
Cuboidal
Will appear ~22-24 weeks gestation
Surfactant Composition
Surfactant is composed of phospholipids, neutral lipids, and proteins
Mammalian Fetal Lung Fluid Composition
- 90-95% Lipids
- 80-85% phospholipids
- Phophatidylcholine is the most abundant phospholipid (75-80%)
- Dipalmitoylphosphatidlychoine (50%)
- 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine
- 5-10 % proteins
- 80-85% phospholipids
Bovine– BLES- very similar to human surfactant
FETAL LUNG FLUID FUNCTION
The presence of fetal lung fluid is essential for normal lung development
Fetal lung fluid will promote lung growth and maintain the shape of airways through keeping them filled with fluid. Allows the patency of potential spaces and the development of FRC.
Fetal airways are not collapsed but filled with fluid from the canalicular period until the delivery and the initation of breathing air
The lungs will have breathing like movements, but there is no function until the first breath of air
FETAL LUNG FLUID AND SECRETION
The lungs will secrete fluid from the lower respiratory tract (terminal respiratory units) up the conducting airways into the oropharynx where it will be swallowed or join with the amniotic fluid
The baby will produce ~250-350 mL/day
At tern fetal lung fluid levels will peak at 30 mL/kg which is the equivalence of the volume of FRC
FETAL LUNG FLUID AND AMNIOTIC FLUID
The lungs will secrete fluid from the lower respiratory tract (terminal respiratory units) up the conducting airways into the oropharynx where it will be swallowed or join with the amniotic fluid
This is why we can test the amniotic fluid for information about fetal lung fluid
The concentration of phosphatidylglyceroland phosphatidylcholine in amniotic fluid is a sensitive indicator for the state of fetal lung maturity
The fetal lung fluid will have a lower pH than amniotic fluid
The baby will produce ~250-350 mL/day
At tern fetal lung fluid levels will peak at 30 mL/kg which is the equivalence of the volume of FRC
Lung fluid is removed from the lung via decreased production prior to birth (hormones), contractions during labor, and lymphatic absorption after birth
If there is lung fluid retention it can lead to respiratory issues such as transient tachypnea of the newborn
Fluid retention problems can be seen with c-sections
The treatment of TTHN is CPAP and O2 therapy (24 hours)
LUNG FLUID RETENTION
- Lung fluid is removed from the lung via decreased production prior to birth (hormones), contractions during labor, and lymphatic absorption after birth
- If there is lung fluid retention it can lead to respiratory issues such as transient tachypnea of the newborn
- The treatment of TTHN is CPAP and O2 therapy (24 hours)
- Fluid retention problems can be seen with c-sections
Diseases that Effect Surfactant
Aspiration Syndrome
Ex. Meconium, blood, amniotic fluid
Meconium can inactivate surfactant as well as decrease the production of surfactant
Pulmonary Hemmorrhage or Edema
Deactivation of surfactant
Pulmonary Hemmorrhage or Edema
Risk Factors
PDA is a risk factor
Large differences in systemic to pulmonary vascular pressure between the descending aorta and pulmonary vasculature
Fetal Lung Maturity Tests
L/S Ratio
L/S Ratio
Looks at the componenets of surfactant
The levels of spingomyelin will remain constant in th eamniotic fluid, whereas the levels of lecithin will increase as the fetal lung matures and produces surfactant
This test will be done through amniocentesis or when mom’s membrane is ruptured
L:S Ratio Values
The lecithin/sphingomyelin ration (L:S Ration) is usually 1:1 by week 31-32 and 2:1 by 35 week gestations
- L:S 2:1 or greater
- Lungs are mature
- L:S 1.5-1.9 : 1
- 50% chance of RDS
- L:S less than 1.5 : 1
- High risk of RDS
CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT
The heart will begin to beat regularly early the fourth week after fertilization
Will be from the mesoderm
The heart is the first organ that will be fully formed
At week 8 the heart will be fully developed
At 21 days there will be the fusion of the tubes
FETAL CIRCULATION AND PVR
- Fetal circulation will be very different from adult circulation as the blood is mostly shunted around the lungs
- There is highly vascularized resistance in pulmonary circulation in the fetus
- One of the reason there is high PVR is because of the vasoconstriction in response to PaO2
- The other reason for high PVR is the fluid in the lungs will be pressing down on the vasculature
- The pressures will be high in the pulmonary system that blood will back up into the right side of the heart increasing pressures in both the right ventricle and atrium
- The right ventricle is unable to pump through this resistance so it will go through the foreman ovale
FETAL CIRCULATION AND SVR
There is a low vascular resistance in systemic circulation
The placenta is a large surface area/volume with a low resistance
UMBILICAL VEIN
Return oxygenation blood from the placenta
Enters the fetal body through the umbilicus to the undersurface of the liver then to the branches (2 or 3) to the liver
Continues on to the ductus venosus
DUCTUS VENOSUS
Allows blood (30-50%) returning from the placenta to bypass the liver
Drains into the inferior vena cava which goes into the right atrium
FORAMEN OVALE
- An opening in the septum between the two atriums
- Blood from the inferior vena cava will be deflected from the right atrium into the left atrium
- Some of the blood will not be shunted through the foramen ovale and rather will go to the right ventricle then into the pulmonary artery
- But most blood will not flow into the lungs and will be diverted into the ductus arteriosus
DUCTUS ARTERIOSIS
A small vessel that connects the pulmonary artery with the descending (thoracic) aorta
It allows more blood to detour into the systemic circulation without going through the fetal lungs
UMBILICAL ARTERIES
There are two umbilical arteries
Extensions of the internal iliac arteries
Will carry deoxygenated fetal blood into the placenta
The Placenta
The placenta is the only source of oxygen and nutrient rich blood for the baby. It is also the only way for the baby to remove deoxygenated blood
This occurs via finger like projections in the placenta pool
Pathway of the Placenta to the Right Atrium
- Placenta
- Umbilical Vein
- Will branch into two
- One branch to the liver (venous admixture) and then to the IVC
- The other branch goes directly to IVC (shortcut via ductus venous) (oxygen rich blood)
- IVC (venous admixture from legs and PaO2decreases also from the liver)
- RA
Fetal Circulation Superior Vena Cava
The SVC bring deoxygenated blood from the head and arms to the right atrium adding more venous blood into the right atrium and decreasing PaO2
UMBILICAL CORD
Contains 3 vessels (2 small arteries and 1 large vein) which will be surrounded by a tough gelatinous material (Wharton’s Jelly)
This jelly will prevent the cord from being squished or bent
Blood from the Umbilical Cord
- Contains hemtopaotic stem cells, which can be frozen and used to treat infant cancers
- The RTs will run cord blood
- Respiratory acidosis indicates distress of the fetus and an assessment of the baby is required
Fetal Circulation
Atrial Septum
There is a two layered wall in the atrial septum which is composed of the septum secondum and the septum primum
Both walls will have holes in them s when pressure is increase a flap will be created between the holes (Foramen ovale) connecting the two atriums
Basic Fetal Blood Flow
Placenta (~SaO290%) - Umbilical vein (~SaO280%) - Ductus venosus (~ SaO270%) âIVC - RA (~SaO255% to 65%) - FO - LA - LV - aorta with some blood, between 13 to 25%, going into pulmonary circulation via
RA - RV - pulmonary trunk - Ductus arteriosus - aorta
AMNIOTIC FLUID
Will be continuously produced, used, absorbed, and exchanged throughout pregnancy
A term fetus will swallow about 500 mL of amniotic fluid a day and excretes the same amount of hypotonic urine back into the mis each day
There will be ~30mL of amniotic fluid at 10 weeks
At term there will be 1.5 L
Amniotic Fluid Functions
Protect the fetus from injury by acting as a cushion
Controls the thermal environment
Assists in the effacement and dilation of the cervix during labor
Amniotic Fluid Composition
Maternal blood products
Amniotic cells
Fetal skin, hair, and urine