Foetal physiology, growth and development Flashcards
Why does O2 move from mum to baby at the placenta effectively? (5)
- Fetal blood has low pO2- diffusion gradient
- fetal Hb is made of 2 alpha and 2 gamma subunits- higher affinity
- double bohr effect
- increased maternal production of 2,3 BPG secondary to physiological respiratory alkalosis means her Hb is low affinity
- double haldane effect
What is the double bohr effect?
Progesterone= hyperventilation = low pCO2= CO2 entering maternal blood= pH drop= T state= lower affinity for O2= O2 moves to fetus.
Also, CO2 lost from fetal circulation= increase pH= R state= increased affinity for O2
What is the haldane effect?
The Hb in mother gives up more O2 so can accept increasing CO2. Hb on fetus accepts more O2 so gives up Co2. This means no alterations in local pCO2
Describe the fetal circulation
- Most blood in RA passes into LA via foramen ovale
- Some blood however goes into RV, it passes into the pulmonary artery but from here bypasses lungs and goes into aorta via ductus arteriosus
- The blood travels round the body, then goes to the placenta via the umbilical arteries (low pO2)
- Umbillical veins leave placenta, bipasses liver via the ductus venosus and enters back into the IVC
How does the fetus respond to hypoxia? (2)
- Resdistributes blood flow to heart and brain
- Slows down heart rate to reduce O2 demand (chemoreceptors detect drop in pO2 but stimulate rather than inhibit the vagus nerve)
What is a normal HR for a fetus?
120-160 BPM
How can a foetuses HR be measured? (3)
- ultrasound at 5-6 weeks
- doppler stethoscope at 8 weeks
- normal stethoscope at 20 weeks
How much amniotic fluid is normal at 38 weeks?
1L
How is amniotic fluid recycled?
Some is swallowed as it practices swallowing, some is inhaled as it practices breathing, some it absorbed through skin. It is then absorbed and excreted again.
What is amniotic fluid made of?
98% is water. It also contains electrolytes, creatine, urea, bile, renin, glucose, hormones and cells.
What is the vernic caseosa?
A waxy covering which protects the foetuses skin from amniotic fluid.
What happens to debris from swallowng amniotic fluid which cannot be absorbed
It is called muconium, it cannot be directly excreted until birth. It accumulates and in the foetuses GI tract and is passes as its first poo
Which can be done first, choriocentesis or amniocentesis?
choriocentesis
Why do some babies get jaundice after birth?
some times takes a while for their liver to develop the ability to conjugate bilirubin
What hormones are needed for fetal growth, which are specific to the 1st and 2nd trimester?
insulin, EGF, TGFa and leptin (from placenta) always needed.
IDF2 is nutrient independant and seen in trimester 1
IDF1 is nutrient dependant seen in trimester2