Lecture 33 - Teratology 1

Question 1

What is teratology the study of?

Answer 1

study of congenital defects/abnormal formations

Question 2

What is a congenital defect?

Answer 2

a defect that is present at birth

Question 3

Does a congenital defect have to be genetic and heritable?

Answer 3

no

Question 4

What is meant by the term agenesis?

Answer 4

complete failure of development

Question 5

What is meant by the term aplasia?

Answer 5

partial failure of organ development

Question 6

Is it possible to determine the aetiological agent from the distribution of the lesion?

Answer 6

To a degree some have a very wide period of time in which they can be affected

Question 7

What is an example of a congenital abnormality that will not immediately become apparent after birth?

Answer 7

Cryptorchidism

Question 8

What are the factors that influence the development of the embryo/fetus?

Answer 8

1. External environment
2. Intrauterine environment
3. Foetal internal environment (genotype/phenotype)

Question 9

What time period in pregnancy is the fetus most vulnerable to teratogen exposure?

Answer 9

The embryonic period is the period of time in which the fetus is most vulnerable to the exposure of a teratogen.

Question 10

What are the ways that abnormal development can occur?

Answer 10

1. Can arise from inheritance of a faulty genome
2. May arise from acquired genomic damage in utero
3. May arise from direct fetal cell damage in utero

Question 11

What is the name of the criteria that must be met for something to qualify as a teratogen?

Answer 11

Shepards criteria must be met for something to qualify as a teratogen