Fetal Sensorimotor Development

Question 1

gestational age

Answer 1

age of fetus/newborn in weeks from first day of mother’s last normal menstrual cycle

Question 2

normal gestational period

Answer 2

38-42 weeks

Question 3

conceptual age

Answer 3

age of fetus/newborn in weeks since conception

Question 4

First Trimester: muscle spindle development

Answer 4

muscle starts to differentiate; tissue becomes specialized

Question 5

First Trimester: touch/tactile system

Answer 5

first sensory system to develop; response to tactile stimulus

Question 6

First Trimester: vestibular system

Answer 6

functioning at end of first trimester (not fully developed)

Question 7

First Trimester: vision

Answer 7

eyelids fused; optic nerve and cup being formed

Question 8

First Trimester: auditory

Answer 8

none

Question 9

First Trimester: olfactory

Answer 9

none

Question 10

First Trimester: taste

Answer 10

taste buds develop

Question 11

First Trimester: movements

Answer 11

sucking; hiccuping; fetal breathing; quick generalized limb movement; positional changes; 7.5 wks: bend neck/truck away from perioral stroke

Question 12

Second Trimester: muscle spindle

Answer 12

motor end plate forms; clonus response to stretch

Question 13

Second Trimester: touch/tactile system

Answer 13

receptors differentiate

Question 14

Second Trimester: vestibular system

Answer 14

no change

Question 15

Second Trimester: vision

Answer 15

startle to light; visual processing occurs

Question 16

Second Trimester: auditory

Answer 16

will turn to auditory sounds

Question 17

Second Trimester: olfactory

Answer 17

none

Question 18

Second Trimester: taste

Answer 18

no change

Question 19

Second Trimester: movement

Answer 19

quickening; sleep states; grasp reflex; reciprocal and symmetrical limb movements

Question 20

Third Trimester: muscle spindle

Answer 20

some muscles mature and functional, others still maturing

Question 21

Third Trimester: touch/tactile system

Answer 21

touch functional; actual temperature discrimination at end of third trimester

Question 22

Third Trimester: vestibular system

Answer 22

no change

Question 23

Third Trimester: vision

Answer 23

fixation occurs; able to focus at fixed focal length (10 in)

Question 24

Third Trimester: auditory

Answer 24

debris in middle ear, loss of hearing

Question 25

Third Trimester: olfactory

Answer 25

nasal plugs disappear, some olfactory perception

Question 26

Third Trimester: taste

Answer 26

can respond to different tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salt)

Question 27

Third Trimester: movement

Answer 27

28 weeks: primative motor reflexes; rooting, suck, swallow; palmar grasp; plantar grasp; MORO; crossed extension