3220 Chapter5bPost
3220 Chapter5bPost
3220 Chapter5bPost
• Introduction
• Three Stages of Prenatal Development
– Germinal period
• fertilization and implantation
– Embryonic period
• support systems
• general growth/change
• sex differentiation
– Fetal period
• Advantages of Full-Term Fetus
Prenatal Development
• Introduction
– Compared to the newborns of other species, human
newborns are quite helpless, dependent and
underdeveloped at birth.
– As a result, much of our development occurs in a rather
stimulating environment, which is both a challenge and a
source of opportunity
– Even so, a great deal of development occurs
prenatally….
1
Stages of Prenatal Development (cont’d)
2. Embryonic Period: period of structural development
(3-8wks)
– support system develops:
• placenta - remarkable organ that allows for exchanges
between mother’s and embryo’s blood systems
– maintains hormone levels that prevent
menstruation, prepare breasts for milk production
and eventually help to initiate labor and delivery
• umbilical cord - connects embryo to placenta
• amniotic sac - protective membrane, holds in amniotic
fluid in which embryo is suspended
2
Fetal Period (continued)
Advantages of Full-
Full-Term Fetus
1. Ability to begin and maintain regular breathing
2. Stronger sucking response (reflexive)
3. Well-coordinated swallowing movements
4. Stronger peristalsis, therefore better digestion and excretion
of waste
5. More fully balanced control of body temperature