Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ovulation Each month, in one of a woman's two ovaries, a group of immature eggs start to develop in small fluid-filled cysts called follicles. Normally, one of the follicles is selected to complete development (maturation). This "dominant follicle" suppresses the growth of all of the other follicles, which stop growing and degenerate. The mature follicle ruptures and releases the egg from the ovary (ovulation). Ovulation generally occurs about two weeks before a woman's next menstrual period begins.
Development of Corpus Luteum After ovulation, the ruptured follicle develops into a structure called the corpus luteum, which secretes two hormones, progesterone and estrogen. The progesterone helps prepare the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for the embryo to implant by thickening it.
Release of Egg The egg is released and travels into the fallopian tube where it remains until a single sperm penetrates it during fertilization (the union of egg and sperm; see below). The egg can be fertilized for about 24 hours after ovulation. On average, ovulation and fertilization occurs about two weeks after your last menstrual period.
Menses If no sperm is around to fertilize the egg, it and the corpus luteum will degenerate, removing the high level of hormones. This causes the endometrium to slough off, resulting in menstrual bleeding. Then the cycle repeats itself.
Fertilization If sperm does meet and penetrate a mature egg after ovulation, it will fertilize it. When the sperm penetrates the egg, changes occur in the protein coating around it to prevent other sperm from entering. At the moment of fertilization, your baby's genetic make-up is complete, including its sex. Since the mother can provide only X chromosomes (she's XX), if a Y sperm fertilizes the egg, your baby will be a boy (XY); if an X sperm fertilizes the egg, your baby will be a girl (XX).
Implantation Within 24-hours after fertilization, the egg begins dividing rapidly into many cells. It remains in the fallopian tube for about three days. The fertilized egg (called a zygote) continues to divide as it passes slowly through the fallopian tube to the uterus where its next job is to attach to the endometrium (a process called implantation). First the zygote becomes a solid ball of cells, then it becomes a hollow ball of cells called a blastocyst. Before implantation, the blastocyst breaks out of its protective covering. When the blastocyst establishes contact with the endometrium, an exchange of hormones helps the blastocyst attach. Some women notice spotting (or slight bleeding) for one or two days around the time of implantation. The endometrium becomes thicker and the cervix is sealed by a plug of mucus.
Within three weeks, the blastocyst cells begin to grow as clumps of cells within that little ball, and the baby's first nerve cells have already formed. Your developing baby is called an embryo from the moment of conception to the eighth week of pregnancy. After the eighth week and until the moment of birth, your developing baby is called a fetus.
Pregnancy Hormones Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) is a pregnancy hormone present in your blood from the time of conception and is produced by the cells that form the placenta. This is the hormone detected in a pregnancy test; but, it usually takes three to four weeks from the first day of your last period for the levels of hCG to be high enough to be detected by pregnancy tests. The development stages of pregnancy are called trimesters, or three-month periods, because of the distinct changes that occur in each stage.
DEFINITIONS
Fertilization
Union of egg and sperm in the fallopian tube within 2 minutes up to about 72 hours after ovulation
Zygote
Blastomere
DEFINITIONS
Morula
Blastocyst
Morula with a fluid-filled cavity Stage of human development withing the uterine cavity
Embryo
DEFINITIONS
Embryonic Period
Conceptus
DEFINITIONS
Gestational Age
Menstrual Age and Age of Gestation (AOG) Calculated from the 1st day of the last menstrual period (LMP) Generally used during the fetal period, in UTZ, and in clinical practice
DEFINITIONS
Previable Period
11 20 weeks AOG
PREGNANCY
280 days 40 weeks 9 calendar months (calculation is made from ovulation) 10 lunar months (based on LMP)
PREGNANCY
PREGNANCY/GESTATIONAL DIVISION
Divided into 3 trimesters Each lasting for 3 calendar months Each having important obstetrical milestones
Ovulation Each month, a mature egg is released from one of the women's two ovaries -- this is called ovulation. Ovulation takes place about two weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period.
Close up of an ovary releasing an egg in the direction of the opening of the uterine (Fallopian) tube
Zygote
FUNCTIONS OF DECIDUA
Pregnancy is the cardinal function of the endometrium and decidua Optimal site for blastocyst implantation and development of embryo and fetus Sperm capacitation
Can be distinguished in the placenta by the 12th week AOG 2 layers of trophoblast cells
PLACENTA
PLACENTA
Fetal surface Shiny side; SCHULTZ Maternal surface divided into irregular lobes by septa Dirty side; DUNCAN
PLACENTA
ROLES Fetal lungs and kidneys
PLACENTA
3rd week, O2 and other nutrients transported from maternal blood to embryo/fetus by selective osmosis through chorionic villi Almost all drugs can cross into fetal circulation
PLACENTA
ENDOCRINE FUNCTION Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Human Placental Lactogen Estrogen Progesterone
PLACENTA
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) First hormone produced as early as 1 week of missed menses Greatest concentration found at 8-10 wks AOG Lowest concentration at about 20 wks AOG Completely gone 2 weeks postpartum Commonly used for pregnancy testing Biologic activity similar to LH
PLACENTA
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) FUNCTIONS Rescues and maintains corpus luteum in early pregnancy to produce progesterone (only until 8 weeks AOG)
Stimulates fetal testes to synthesize testosterone and promote male sexual differentiation
PLACENTA
Human Placental Lactogen (HPL) Produced as early as the 6th wk AOG Chorionic growth hormone Has lactogenic properties
Not required for a successful pregnancy outcome Functions primarily to ensure nutrient supply to the fetus
PLACENTA
Human Placental Lactogen (HPL) FUNCTIONS Promotes growth of mammary gland in preparation for lactation Promotes lipolysis to provide energy for maternal metabolism and fetal secretion
PLACENTA
Estrogen (Estriol) Very high concentration near term (hyperestrogenic state)
Mammary gland development for lactation Stimulates uterine growth to accommodate the growing fetus
PLACENTA
Progesterone Initially produced by corpus luteum then syncitiotrophoblast
Maintains the endometrial lining of the uterus during pregnancy Reduce uterine contractility during pregnancy
UMBILICAL CORD
Formed from the amnion and chorion Extends from the fetal umbilicus to the fetal surface of the placenta 50 55cm long at term 2cm thick 1 vein carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus 2 arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the fetus 350ml/min rate of blood flow
UMBILICAL CORD
Bulk of the cord (extracellular matrix) is the Whartons Jelly Provides a circulatory pathway connecting the embryo to the chorionic villi
FETAL MEMBRANES
Chorionic membrane outermost fetal membrane Amniotic membrane beneath chorion Produces amniotic fluid
AMNIOTIC FLUID
Constantly formed and reabsorbed Alkaline (pH 7.2) At term 1000ml Shields fetus against pressure or trauma to maternal abdomen Protects fetus from changes in temperature Protects umbilical cord from pressure Allows fetus freedom to move
AMNIOTIC FLUID
Hydramnios (polyhydramnios) Excesssive amount (>2L) Failure of fetal swallowing Maternal diabetes Oligohydramnios Reduced amount (<300ml) Fetal renal failure