Fetal Growth and Development Flashcards

1
Q

What is the fetal period?

A

Growth and physiological maturation of structures created in the embryonic period

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2
Q

Outline the time frame of the pre-embryonic, embryonic, fetal periods

A

Pre-embryonic = weeks 1-2

Embryonic = weeks 3-8

Fetal = weeks 9-38

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3
Q

Outline fetal growth

A

Embryo – intense morphogenesis and differentiation; little weight gain; placental growth most significant

Early fetus – protein deposition

Late fetus – adipose deposition

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4
Q

Outline how the proportions of the body change during the fetal period

A

at 9 week, the head is approx half crown-rump length

thereafter, body length and lower limb growth accelerates

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5
Q

What ante-natal assessments can be used to asses fetal well being?

A

Mother = Fetal movements

Regular measurements of uterine expansion = Symphysis-fundal height

Ultrasound scan

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6
Q

What can an obstetric ultrasound scan be used for?

A

Early in preg = age, rule out ectopic, number of fetuses

Routinely carried out at ~20 weeks = asses fetal growth, abnormalities

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7
Q

How is fetal age estimated?

A

LMP = but prone to inaccuracy

Developmental criteria = crown-rump length, biparietal diameter, abdo circumference, femur length

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8
Q

What is crown-rump length?

A

Length between the fetal crown and rump

Measured between 7 and 13 weeks to date the pregnancy and estimate EDD

Scan in T1 also used to check location, number, viability

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9
Q

What is the biparietal diameter?

A

Distance between the 2 parietal bones

Used in T2 and T3

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10
Q

What 3 measurements can be used in t2 and T3 to asses fetal devel?

A

Abdo circumference

Femur length

Biparietal diameter

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11
Q

How can birth-weight be classified?

A

3500 g is considered average

< 2500 g suggests growth restriction

> 4500 g is macrosomia = maternal diabetes

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12
Q

What are the reasons babies can have low birth-weight?

A

Premature

Constitutionally small

Suffered growth restriction (associated with neonatal morbidity and mortality)

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13
Q

Briefly outline the devel of the respiratory system

A

Late devel

Out-pocking for foregut

Respiratory divertucum devel, tracheoesophageal septum forms = 2 separate tubes

Pesudoglandular stage = duct system begins

Canalicular stage = formation of respiratory bronchioles

Terminal sac stage = formation of terminal sacs, differentiation of T1/2 pneumocytes (T2 = surfactant)

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14
Q

How do the fetal lungs prepare for birth?

A

‘breathing’ movements = conditioning of respiratory musculature

Fluid filled = crucial for normal lung devel

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15
Q

What marks the stage of lung viability?

A

Terminal sac stage

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16
Q

What is respiratory distress syndrome?

A

Insufficient surfactant prod

Glucocorticoid treatment = increases surfactant prod in the fetus

17
Q

How can fetal HR be used as an assessment of development?

A

Definitive HR achieved around 15 weeks

Fetal bradycardia is associated with fetal demise

18
Q

What is oligohydramnios?

A

Too little amniotic fluid

= placental insufficiency, fetal renal impairment

19
Q

What is polyhydramnios?

A

Too much amniotic fluid

= fetal abnormalities (e.g. Inability to swallow, fistula, bind ended osphagus, tracheaosphageal setum in the wrong place, cant coordinate swallow – CNS defect)

20
Q

Outline the devel of the CNS

A

Corticospinal tracts required for coordinated voluntary movements begin to form in the 4th month

Myelination of brain only begins in 9th month

Corticospinal tract myelination incomplete at birth, as evidence by increasing infant mobility in the 1st year

21
Q

What is maternal ‘quickening’

A

Awareness of fetal movements from ~17 weeks onwards

Low cost/simple ante-partum fetal surveillance

22
Q

Which prenatal diagnostic test has the highest risk of preg loss?

A

chorionic villus sampling

23
Q

What is the aetiology if fetal HR accelerations in utero?

A

response to fetal movement

24
Q

What is the normal fetal pO2?

A

4k Pa

25
Q

What is the normal fetal HR?

A

110-160 bpm

26
Q

Outline fundal height during gestation

A

12 = pubic symphisis

16 = between pubis and umbilicus

20 = umbilicus

36 = xiphisternum

27
Q

What treatment should be given to the mother to promote fetal lung devel should premature delivery be unavoidable?

A

corticosteroids