Prenatal development

Prenatal development refers to the process in which a baby develops from a single cell after conception into an embryo and later a fetus.

Fertilization• When semen is deposited in

the vagina ,the spermatozoa travel through the cervix and body of the uterus and into the Fallopian tubes. Fertilization of the ovum (egg cell) usually takes place in the Fallopian tube. Many sperm must cooperate to penetrate the thick protective shell-like barrier that surrounds the ovum. The first sperm that penetrates fully into the egg donates its genetic material (DNA).

Embryonic period• The embryonic period in humans begins

at fertilization (penetration of the egg by the sperm) and continues until the end of the 10th week of gestation (8th week by embryonic age).

• The embryo spends the next few days traveling down the Fallopian tube. It starts out as a single cell zygote and then divides several times to form a ball of cells called a morula. Further cellular division is accompanied by the formation of a small cavity between the cells. This stage is called a blastocyst. Up to this point there is no growth in the overall size of the embryo, as it is confined within a glycoprotein shell, known as the zona pellucida. Instead, each division produces successively smaller cells.

Prenatal Development

Month by Month

• Period of the Ovum (zygote)–0-2 Weeks –Conception / Fertilization–Cell Multiplication – single cell

divides into 2 4 8…–Implantation – cells attach to wall

of uterus–About the size of a pin head.

Period of the

Ovum

Period of the

Embryo

• Period of the Embryo

–2 – 8 weeks–Formation of most major organs and

bones;–Formation of placenta, amniotic fluid

and umbilical cord; nourishment begins to pass–Heart begins to beat–Amniotic fluid acts as a “shock

absorber” and is replaced every 3 hours.

Lightening: Baby moves lower into pelvis in anticipation of delivery;

Fetus can suck its thumb, cough sneeze, yawn, & hick-up.

Period of the

Fetus

Period of the

Fetus

Period of the

Fetus

Period of the

Fetus

“If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other

people to not kill each other? Any country that

accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love,

but to use any violence to get what they want.”

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS !