Life Cycle Nutrition: Pregnancy and Lactation - Part 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering the biological stages of development, anatomical structures, and health considerations for pregnancy and lactation based on Dr. Mohammed Omar's lecture.

conception

The union of the male sperm and the female ovum; also known as fertilization.

placenta

The organ that develops inside the uterus early in pregnancy through which the fetus receives nutrients and oxygen and returns carbon dioxide and other waste products to be excreted.

uterus

The muscular organ within which the infant develops before birth.

amniotic sac

A fluid-filled balloonlike structure, often called the "bag of waters," in which the fetus floats within the uterus.

umbilical cord

The ropelike structure containing fetal blood vessels that extends from the fetus's umbilicus to the placenta; it serves as the route for nourishment, oxygen, and waste disposal.

ovum

The female reproductive cell, commonly referred to as an egg, capable of developing into a new organism upon fertilization.

sperm

The male reproductive cell, capable of fertilizing an ovum.

zygote

The newly fertilized ovum; the initial product of the union of ovum and sperm.

blastocyst

The developmental stage of the zygote when it is about $5$ days old and ready for implantation.

implantation

The process by which the blastocyst embeds itself into the inner lining of the uterus.

embryo

The developing infant from $2$ to $8$ weeks after conception.

fetus

The developing infant from $8$ weeks after conception until term.

full term

Births occurring at $39$ through $40$ weeks of gestation.

critical periods

Finite periods during development, usually of rapid cell division, in which certain events occur that will have irreversible effects on later developmental stages.

gestation

The period from conception to birth, which averages $40$ weeks for human beings.

neural tube defects

Malformations of the brain, spinal cord, or both during embryonic development that often result in lifelong disability or death.

anencephaly

An uncommon and always fatal type of neural tube defect characterized by the absence of a brain or the failure of the brain to develop.

spina bifida

A common type of neural tube defect characterized by the incomplete closure of the spinal cord and its bony encasement.

folate

A B vitamin that, when consumed prior to and during pregnancy at levels of $400$ micrograms ($0.4\,mg$) daily, helps prevent neural tube defects.

preterm

Births occurring before $37$ weeks of gestation; also referred to as premature.

gestational age

The number of weeks that an infant has been developing in the uterus.

macrosomia

Abnormally large body size; in an infant, it refers to a birthweight at the $90\text{th}$ percentile or higher, roughly $9\,lb$ ($4000\,g$) or more.

cesarean deliveries

Surgically assisted births involving the removal of the fetus by an incision into the uterus, usually via the abdominal wall.

gestational diabetes

A medical complication for which obese women have a high risk, characterized by glucose intolerance during pregnancy.

gestational hypertension

A condition of high blood pressure that can develop during pregnancy, for which obesity is a risk factor.