Fertilisation & week 1 development Flashcards
(52 cards)
Superior
above something else towards the head
Cranial
towards the head
caudal
towards the tail
Vental
Towards the front (umbilical cord)
Dorsal
Towards the back
Transverse plain
Dividing the cranial from the caudal (cutting embryo across waist)
Sagittal section
Dividing the embryo into right and left halves
Coronal section
dividing the embryo up into ventral and dorsal (taking a slice down the “front” of the embryo)
Two techniques used to date a pregnancy
Menstrual age
Fertilisation age
How is Menstrual age used?
- Used by clinicians
Dates pregnancy from the womens first day of last menstrual period
Used as: - Cheap
- Fairly reliable
- Easy to identify
Three equal trimesters
1= 1st day of last period-12 weeks
2= 12 weeks+ 1 day to 28 weeks
3= week 28+1 to week40
How is fertilisation age used?
- Used by embryologists
More specific
Divided into 3 stages - Early development (cell division, pre- embryonic)
- Embryonic (organogenesis) period (E)
- Foetal period (F)
How common are human birth defects?
1 in 44 births in UK
Major causes of congenital malformations
Unknown (idiopathic) = 50%
Multifactorial= 25%
Major environmental= 7%
Monogenic= 8%
Chromosomal= 10%
Percentage of birth defects detected prenatal
<60%
Genetic & environmental
- Meiosis
- Mitosis
EN - Teratogens
Genetic causes of birth defects
Monogenic
- defective gene on autosome
Chromosomal
- Numerical (aneuploidy)
E.G.
Patau
Edwards
Downs
- Structural
E.G.
Cri du chat
Pallister killian syndrome
Symptoms of genetic causes
- Growth retardation
- Intellectual impairment
- Craniofacial development
- Congenital heart defects
What are teratogens?
Environmental influence that is “monster forming”
Examples of Teratogens
Infections (TORCH)
Chemicals
Physical
Maternal disease
Deficiency
Sensitivity to teratogens
Risk of congenital malformations from teratogens is at the highest when exposed between 3-5 weeks fertilisation
age
Before 3 weeks, no
placenta. So likelihood
of abnormality at this time
is very low as pregnancy
would likely just not survive
What does TORCH stand for?
Toxoplasmosis
Other (Hep B, Syphilis)
Rubella (German measles)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
each of these diseases cross the placenta and may cause birth defects
Toxoplasmosis & congenital malformations
- Paracite
- Found in cat faeces and undercooked raw meat
- Usually asymptomatic
Congenital malformations
- Inflammation of retina and eye/ microphthalmia
- Hearing loss
- Enlarged liver spleen
- Hydrocephaly
- Microcephaly
Rubella & congenital malformations
- Infection passes over placenta in first 3 months of pregnancy
- Rates of rubella have decreased since the MMR vaccine
Congenital malformations
- Cloudy cornea
- Intellectual disability
- Microcephaly
- Heart defects
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) & congenital malformations
- Virus that crosses the placenta
- Infection via bodily fluids
- Usually asymptomatic
Congenital malformations
- Inflammation of retina/ microphthalmia
- Enlarged spleen or liver
- Mineral deposits on the brain
- Microcephaly
- Psychomotor impediments