Prenatal Development & Birth Flashcards
Heredity
the transmission of genetic material from one generation to another
Epigenetics
heritable variations in gene expression that do not involve DNA sequence changes
Mutation
a sudden or accidental variation in a heritable characteristic that affects the composition of genes
Monozygotic (MZ) Twins
twins that derive from a single zygote that was split in two, identical twins
Dizygotic Twins (DZ) Twins
twins that derive from two separate zygotes, fraternal twins
Down Syndrome
a chromosomal abnormality characterized by intellectual challenges and caused by an extra chromosome on the 21st pair
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
a genetic abnormality in which phenylalanine builds up and causes intellectual challenges
Huntington Disease
a fatal genetic neurological disorder whose onset takes place in middle age, it is a dominant trait
Sickle-cell Anemia
a genetic disorder that decreases the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen
Tay-Sachs Disease
a fatal genetic neurological disorder that causes degeneration and premature birth
Cystic Fibrosis
a fatal genetic disorder in which mucus obstructs the lungs and pancreas
Hemophilia
a genetic disorder in which blood does not clot properly
Muscular Dystrophy
a chronic disease characterized by a progressive wasting away of the muscles
Color Blindness
a sex-linked condition that makes it difficult to differentiate various colors
Amniocentesis
a procedure for drawing and examining fetal cells sloughed off into amniotic fluid to determine the prescence of various disorders
Chronic Villus Sampling (CVS)
a method for prenatal detection of genetic abnormalities that samples the membrane enveloping the amniotic sac and fetus
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)
a blood test that assesses the mothers blood level of the alpha-fetoprotein, a substance that is linked to the fetal neural tube defects
Reaction Range
the interaction between nature and nurture
What does infertility look like in women?
irregular (or lack of) ovulation
pelvic inflammatory
endometriosis
What does infertility look like in men?
low sperm count or lack of sperm
low sperm motility
What is assisted human reproduction?
fertility drugs
in vitro fertilization: fertilization occurs outside, zygote then implanted
artificial insemination: direct sperm injection into uterus
What are the characteristics of the first trimester of pregnancy?
first 12 weeks, dating ultrasound, morning sickness, 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage
What are the characteristics of the second trimester of pregnancy?
from the 13th to the 24th week, anatomic ultrasound to check if baby is developing correctly, gestational diabetes, begin to feel fetus movement
What are the characteristics of the third trimester of pregnancy?
from the 25th week, toxemia: sudden increase in blood pressure that could lead to a stroke
What are the stages of prenatal development?
germinal
embryonic
fetal
What is the germinal stage?
first two weeks
from conception to implantation
zygote –> blastocyst
cell specialization: placenta, umbilical cord, embryo
What is the embryonic stage?
after implantation to the end of week 8
placenta develops and takes charge of hormone production
Y chromosome signals for androgen secretion
organogenesis: foundational structures of organ systems (blastocyst)
What is the fetal stage?
beginning of week 9 to the end of gestation
fetus growth
refinements of organ system: become more specialized
13th to 21st week: neuronal proliferation, respond to soundwaves
viability: end the 22nd week is the earliest a baby can be born and survive outside the uterus
32nd to 33rd week: fetus can distinguish between novel and familiar stimuli
What is the ectoderm?
nervous system, sensory organs, nails, hair, teeth, outer layer of skin
What is the endoderm?
digestive and respiratory system, liver, pancreas
What is the mesoderm?
excretory, reproductory, and circulatory systems, skeleton, muscles, inner layer of skin
What are some autosomal disorders caused by recessive genes?
phenylketonuria (PKU)
sickle-cell disease
Tay-Sachs disease
cystic fibrosis
What are some autosomal disorders caused by dominant genes?
Huntington’s disease
What are some sex-linked disorders caused by abnormalities on the X chromosome?
Red-green color blindness
Hemophilia: blood doesn’t clot normally
Fragile-X chromosome: cognitive and behavioral impairments
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
What are some examples of trisomy disorders?
trisomy 21: down syndrome
trisomy 13 and 18: fatal, won’t survive first year
What is Klinefelter’s syndrome?
XXY
tall stature, poor beard growth, minor breast development, female pubic hair pattern, testicular atrophy
What is Turner’s syndrome?
XO
short stature, webbed neck, shield chest, underdeveloped breasts and widely spread nipples, rudimentary ovaries, nevi
How do viral infections affect prenatal development?
rubella: blindness, deafness, heart defects, or brain damage
zika virus: microcephaly, neurological deficits
cytomegalovirus: deafness, CNS damage, intellectual delay
HIV: weakens immune system
How do prescription and over-the-counter drugs affect prenatal development?
Thalidomide in the 60s caused a lot of babies were born missing limbs
How does tobacco affect prenatal development?
miscarriage, stillborn, premature birth, low-birth weight, neurobehavioral disorders
How does alcohol affect prenatal development?
FASD, learning and behavioral difficulties, mental health problems
How does cannabis affect prenatal development?
potential neurobiological and neurocognitive risks
How do illicit drugs affect prenatal development?
premature birth, miscarriage, early death, withdrawal symptoms
How do maternal characteristics affect prenatal development?
nutrition: folic acid, malnutrition, restrictions, fetus does not take what they need
age: over 35 and below 20, premature birth and low birth weight, higher infant mortality rates, chromosomal abnormalities
mental health, Rh incompatibility, chronic illness
Conception
the union of a sperm cell and an ovum that occurs when the chromosomes of each of these cells combine to form 23 new pairs
Endometrium
the inner lining of the uterus
Spontaneous Abortion
unplanned miscarriage of the developing organism
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
an infection of the abdominal region that may have various causes and may impair fertility
Endometriosis
inflammation of the endometrial tissue sloughed off into the abdominal cavity rather than out of the body during menstruation, the condition is characterized by abdominal pain and sometimes infertility
Donor IVF
the transfer of a donor’s ovum, fertilized in a laboratory dish, to the uterus of another women
Germinal (Zygotic) Stage
the period of development between conception and the implantation of the embryo
Blastocyst
a cluster of cells that are formed around a cavity of fluid, some of the cells will become the fetus and some will become the placenta
Embryonic Disk
the plate like inner part of the blastocyst that differentiates into the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm of the embryo
Embryonic Stage
the stage of prenatal development that lasts from implantation through the eighth week of pregnancy, it is characterized by the development of the major organ systems
Neural Tube
a hollowed-out area in the blastocyst from which the nervous system develops
RH Incompatibility
a condition in which antibodies produced by the mother are transmitted to the child, possibly causing brain damage or death
Braxton-Hicks Contractions
the first, usually painless contractions of childbirth
Prostaglandins
hormones that stimulate uterine contractions
Oxytocin
a hormone that stimulates labour contractions
Lanugo
fine, downy hair on premature babies
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
weak and irregular breathing, typical of preterm babies
How does the father’s age affect prenatal development?
genetic mutations
autism
schizophrenia
What are some methods of fetal assessment?
chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
amniocentesis
maternal blood and urine tests
fetoscopy
blood test
What are different choices a women can make about giving birth?
the location of birth: hospital, birth center, mother’s home
midwives
drugs during labor and delivery: analgesics, sedatives, tranquilizers, anesthesia, baby receives the medication too through the placenta
What is stage one of giving birth?
getting ready to push
dilation and effacement (latent phase): 1 to 3 cm
active phase: 3 to 4 cm
transition: 8 to 10 cm
What is stage two of giving birth?
pushing baby
mother starts to push
baby passes through birth canal
What is stage three of giving birth?
pushing placenta
delivery of placenta (afterbirth)
What are some birth complications that can occur?
fetal distress, anoxia, hypoxia
breeching
mother health issues
what to do?: episiotomy, vacuum suction, forceps, caesarean delivery
After how many weeks is the baby said to be term, pre-term, or post-term?
38 to 40 weeks: term
at or before 37 weeks: pre-term
after 42 weeks: post-term
What is considered to be a low birth weight?
low birth weight: below 2.5 kg
very low birth weight: below 1.5 kg
What is the Apgar Scale?
7 or above: good condition
4-7: need help breathing
3 or below: critical condition
What is the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale?
neurobehavioral responses
more detailed assessment, response to stimuli
What the baby look like after being born?
battered cone-head appearance
eyelids might be puffy
skin covered in vernix
body covered in lanugo-dark fuzz
blood and other fluids might remain on body parts
What are the reflexes a baby is born with?
sucking reflex
rooting reflex
moro reflex
grasping reflex
stepping reflex
babinski reflex
tonic-neck reflex
What are a new-born baby’s vision capabilities?
nearsighted, 18-23 cm
little to no visual accommodation
What are a new-born baby’s hearing capabilities?
myelination not complete
react to familiar sounds
What are a new-born baby’s smelling capabilities?
turn away from unpleasant smells
What are a new-born baby’s tasting capabilities?
preference for breast milk and sweet solutions
What are a new-born baby’s touching capabilities?
most advances of all the senses at birth
important for brain development
Mitosis
the form of cell division in which each chromosome splits lengthwise to double in number, half of each chromosome combines with chemicals to retake its original form and then moves to the new cell
Meiosis
the form of cell division in which each pair of chromosomes splits so that one member of each pair moves to the new cell, as a result each new cell has 23 chromosomes
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
the term for any medical assistance provided that enables conception to take place
Cephalocaudal Development
from head to tail
Proximodistal Development
from the inner part (or axis) of the body outward
Endoderm
the inner layer of the embryo from which the lungs and digestive system develops
Mesoderm
the central layer of the embryo from which the bones and muscles develop
Fetal Stage
the stage of development that lasts from the beginning of the ninth week of pregnancy through birth, it is characterized by gains in size and weight and by maturation of the organ systems
Teratogens
environmental influences or agents that can damage the embryo or fetus
Toxemia
a life-threatening disease that can affect pregnant women, characterized by high blood pressure
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
a cluster of symptoms shown by children of women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy, including characteristic facial features and intellectual challenges, a spectrum disorder indicates not only a range of linked conditions but also a continuum of mild to more severe symptoms
Accutane (Isotretinoin)
a frequently prescribed acne medication that can cause significant physical and neurological birth defects
Progestin
a hormone used to maintain pregnancy that can cause masculinization of the fetus
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
an estrogen that has been linked to cancer in the reproductive organs of children whose mothers used the hormone when pregnant
Rubella
a viral infection that can cause retardation and heart disease in the embryo, also called German measles
Midwife
an individual who cares for women during pregnancy, labour, and delivery, and after the child is born
Anoxia
absence of oxygen
Hypoxia
less oxygen than required
Postpartum Depression (PPD)
serious maternal depression following delivery, characterized by sadness, apathy, and feelings of worthlessness
Bonding
formation of parent-infant attachment
Apgar Scale
a measure of newborn’s health that assesses appearance, pulse, grimace, activity level, and respiratory effort
Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale
a measure of a newborn’s motor behavior, response to stress, adaptive behavior, and control over physiological state
Rooting Reflex
the response of turning the mouth and head toward the stroking of cheek or the corner of the mouth
Moro Reflex
the response of arching the back, flinging out the arms and legs, and drawing them back to the chest in response to a sudden change in position
Grasping Reflex
the response of grasping objects that touch the palms
Stepping Reflex
the response of taking steps when held under the arms and leaned forward so the feet press the ground
Babinski Reflex
the response of fanning the toes when the soles of the feet are stroked
Tonic-Neck Reflex
the response of turning the head to one side, extending the arm and leg on that side, and flexing the the limbs on the opposite side
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
the death, while sleeping, of apparently healthy babies who stop breathing
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
the violent shaking of an infant, often to stop the infant from crying
