Prenatal development
Prenatal Development
Prenatal development (pronunciation: /priːˈneɪtəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt/), also known as gestation, is the process in which an embryo or fetus (pronunciation: /ˈfiːtəs/) develops during pregnancy, from fertilization until birth.
Etymology
The term "prenatal" comes from the Latin "prae-" meaning "before" and "natus" meaning "birth".
Stages of Prenatal Development
Prenatal development is typically divided into three stages: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage.
Germinal Stage
The germinal stage begins at fertilization, when the sperm fertilizes the ovum, and lasts until implantation in the uterus, which marks the start of the embryonic stage.
Embryonic Stage
The embryonic stage starts at implantation and lasts until about the eighth week of pregnancy. During this stage, the major organs and structures of the body start to develop.
Fetal Stage
The fetal stage begins in the ninth week of pregnancy and lasts until birth. This is the longest stage of prenatal development and is characterized by rapid growth and further development of the organs and structures established in the embryonic stage.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Prenatal development
- Wikipedia's article - Prenatal development
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