Year 7 Learning how a foetus develops Flashcards
How long does a human foetus take to grow?
38 weeks from one fertilised cell into a complete baby.
How long for dogs?
2 months
How long for elephants?
2 years.
What is the period of development called?
gestation.
What does the mother do for the foetus?
The mother provides the developing foetus with all the nutrients and oxygen it needs, as well as removing all waste products.
Cell division, what happens when the cell has been fertilised?
It divides into 2. these cells further divide to make for cells, which divide again to make 8 cells. the cell division continues until there is a 1000 cells and the overall size of the organism increases.
Within the first 2-3 weeks, the cells are all the same- they call them stem cells and have the ability to become any specialised cell in the body.
Picture of the stem cells.
click on picture and can expand and transfer to google.
Development of the foetus. What happens once the ball of stem cells reaches a certain size?
The cells begin to differentiate/ become different and become specialised cells. Some cells will develop into the organs and tissues of the developing baby.
At this when the cells begin to differ the ball of cells is called an embryo.
once it reaches 8 weeks old when most of the main organs are formed including the heart which is now beating. it is called a foetus.
The stages of a growing foetus.
What is an ultrasound used for during pregnancy?
The ultrasound makes images of the foetus at different stages to monitor its development and identify any problems. the size of the foetus can be measured using these images.
Do you know a fact about the foetus at 24 weeks.
It can hear.
Do you know a fact about a foetus at 14 weeks?
the taste buds of a foetus can develop at 14 weeks
Do you know a fact about the foetus at 31 weeks?
It can track objects with its eyes.
During pregnancy , other cells from the original ball of cells will become structures that connect with the mother. What are the structures?
The placenta, amnion, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord.
What does the umbilical cord do?
It attaches the foetus to the placenta
What does the placenta do?
the placenta is where the blood from the mother runs alongside the blood from the foetus, here food and oxygen pass into the foetus and carbon dioxide and other wastes pass out.
what is the purpose/ use of the uterus or womb?
the wall of the uterus or womb contains the most powerful muscle in the body.
What does the amniotic fluid do?
the amniotic fluid protects the foetus.
what is the amnion
the amnion is a bag around the foetus that helps to stop infections and holds the fluid in.
true or false
a foetus cannot take in its own food or oxygen and relies on the mother to supply it with essential chemicals and nutrients.
true
true or false the placenta allows substances to pass from mother to baby
true
What is the role/ job of the placenta?
the placenta allows oxygen, gluclose, digested proteins and fats, vitamins and minerals to enter the foetus. The placenta also removes carbon dioxide and waste products such as urea {waste substance)
CAn harmful products transfer across the placenta to the foetus?
Yes they can including alcohol, nicotine, carbon monoxide, cocaine, insecticides, lead and mercury.
