N 340 Women's Health & Illness in The Expanding Family & N345 Clinical Practicum

Fetal Development

Readings: Lowdermilk: Chapter 12 and 26

Chapter 12
1. What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?
2. When does an oocyte become a zygote?
3. How many sperm are usually in an ejaculation?
4. How long to sperm live in the female reproductive system? I didn’t know some could reach the oocyte within five minutes!
5. Where does fertilization usually take place?
6. What are the germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm and what do each of these develop?
7. What are the embryonic period and the fetal period?
8. When is a baby most susceptible to the negative effects of teratogens? Also see brief discussion on page 275-276.
9. What are the two fetal membranes called? Which one is closest to the baby?
10. Look at figure 12-8. If a mom got a severe infection between 5 and 6 weeks gestation, what kind of defect might the baby have at birth? Also check out Table 12-1 p. 284.
11. What are oligohydramnios and hydramnios?
12. What is the purpose of Wharton’s Jelly in the umbilical cord?
13. What is one of the early functions of the placenta?
14. Refresh your memory on fetal circulation (Fig. 12-10).
15. What is an L/S ratio? It has to do with the respiratory system. What are you if you are an XX or an XY?
16. Due to its immunological system, why is a preterm infant at greater risk for infection?
17. What are dizygotic twins and monozygotic twins?