Year 7 Learning how a foetus develops

Question 1

How long does a human foetus take to grow?

Answer 1

38 weeks from one fertilised cell into a complete baby.

Question 2

How long for dogs?

Answer 2

2 months

Question 3

How long for elephants?

Answer 3

2 years.

Question 4

What is the period of development called?

Answer 4

gestation.

Question 5

What does the mother do for the foetus?

Answer 5

The mother provides the developing foetus with all the nutrients and oxygen it needs, as well as removing all waste products.

Question 6

Cell division, what happens when the cell has been fertilised?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Picture of the stem cells.

Answer 7

click on picture and can expand and transfer to google.

Question 8

Development of the foetus. What happens once the ball of stem cells reaches a certain size?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

The stages of a growing foetus.

Question 10

What is an ultrasound used for during pregnancy?

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Do you know a fact about the foetus at 24 weeks.

Answer 11

It can hear.

Question 11

Do you know a fact about a foetus at 14 weeks?

Answer 11

the taste buds of a foetus can develop at 14 weeks

Question 12

Do you know a fact about the foetus at 31 weeks?

Answer 12

It can track objects with its eyes.

Question 13

During pregnancy , other cells from the original ball of cells will become structures that connect with the mother. What are the structures?

Answer 13

The placenta, amnion, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord.

Question 14

What does the umbilical cord do?

Answer 14

It attaches the foetus to the placenta

Question 15

What does the placenta do?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

what is the purpose/ use of the uterus or womb?

Answer 16

the wall of the uterus or womb contains the most powerful muscle in the body.

Question 17

What does the amniotic fluid do?

Answer 17

the amniotic fluid protects the foetus.

Question 18

what is the amnion

Answer 18

the amnion is a bag around the foetus that helps to stop infections and holds the fluid in.

Question 19

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.

Answer 19

true

Question 20

true or false the placenta allows substances to pass from mother to baby

Answer 20

true

Question 21

What is the role/ job of the placenta?

Answer 21

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)

Question 22

CAn harmful products transfer across the placenta to the foetus?

Answer 22

Yes they can including alcohol, nicotine, carbon monoxide, cocaine, insecticides, lead and mercury.