Prenatal

• Fetal development occurs through cell division, differentiation, and growth.
• The umbilical cord carries blood from the placenta to the baby's heart.
• The placenta is the organ that connects the mother to the fetus, providing nutrients and oxygen.
• The fetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which provides protection and helps with movement.
• In the second trimester, the fetus grows rapidly and can be felt moving inside the uterus.
• During the first trimester, the embryo develops into an organism with all major body parts present.
• During pregnancy, the fetus receives nutrients and oxygen from the mother via the placenta.
• The amniotic sac contains fluid that cushions the fetus during movement.
• From puberty on, the male testes produce sperm, or male sex cells, which are released at the moment of ejaculation
• Conception or fertilization

  The union of the female ovum and the male sperm cell
• From the time of menarche in puberty until menopause in middle age, the female ovaries produce ova, or female sex cells
• After fertilization

  The zygote undergoes a series of cell divisions and forms a cell mass
• The period from fertilization to birth is called the prenatal period
• Roughly every 28 days, an ovum matures and is released in a process known as ovulation
• Pregnancy begins with the union of the female ovum and the male sperm cell
• Fertilization normally takes place in the woman's fallopian tube
• All inherited characteristics are determined at this moment
• Blastocyst


  An entity formed from a morula that implants itself in the uterine wall
• Embryo

  A multi-celled structure formed from a blastocyst that continues to develop
• The estimated length of pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks (9 calendar months or 10 lunar months)
• The fetal stage begins with the ninth week and ends with the birth of the baby
• The pre-embryonic stage begins with fertilization and lasts for about 2 weeks
• Fetus

  An entity formed from an embryo that has all essential structures formed by the end of the eighth week of development
• The total process, from fertilization to implantation, takes about 7 days
• Morula

  A multi-celled entity formed from a fertilized egg that continues to divide and change as it travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus
• Prenatal development

  • Pre-embryonic
  • Embryonic
  • Fetal
• The embryonic stage begins 2 weeks after fertilization and ends after the eighth week