Pre-Natal Development and Birth

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key terms, medical conditions, physiological changes, and prenatal developmental stages from the Pre-Natal and Birth lectures.

Braxton-Hicks Contractions

The first, usually painless, contractions of childbirth that occur around six months of pregnancy to prepare the muscles for delivery.

Cervix

The narrow lower end of the uterus through which a baby passes to reach the vagina.

Prostaglandins

Hormones that stimulate uterine contractions, secreted by the placenta and uterus when stimulated by fetal hormones.

Episiotomy

A surgical incision made between the birth canal and anus to widen the vaginal opening during childbirth.

Transition

The movement of the head of the fetus into the vagina during labor.

General Anesthesia

A method of pain elimination during delivery achieved by putting a person to sleep.

Neonate

An infant from birth through the first four weeks of life.

Lamaze Method

A childbirth method in which women are educated about childbirth, practice patterned breathing to lessen pain, and have a coach present.

Preterm Baby

A baby born at or before $37\text{ weeks}$ of gestation, compared with the normal $40\text{ weeks}$.

Low Birth Weight

A classification given to a baby born weighing less than $5.5\text{ pounds}$.

Small-for-Gestational-Age Babies

Babies who show lower weight than typical for their gestational age, tend to remain shorter and lighter, and exhibit slight delays in learning and attention.

Lanugo

Fine, downy hair found on the skin of premature babies.

Vernix

An oily white substance found covering the skin of premature babies.

Postpartum Period

The weeks following delivery (also called the 4th trimester) characterized by uterine involution and maternal emotional fluctuations.

Baby Blues

Periods of tearfulness, sadness, and irritability experienced by about $70\%$ of new mothers following birth.

Major Depression with Perinatal Onset

Serious maternal depression following delivery characterized by sadness, apathy, and feelings of worthlessness, affecting $10\%$ to $15\%$ of women.

Bonding

The formation of parent–infant attachment.

Apgar Scale

A measure of a newborn's health that assesses appearance (color), pulse (heart rate), grimace (reflexes), activity level (muscle tone), and respiratory effort.

Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale

A evaluation tool measuring a newborn's motor behavior, response to stress, adaptive behavior, and control over physiological state.

Moro Reflex

An infant reflex characterized by arching the back, flinging out the arms and legs, and drawing them back to the chest in response to a sudden noise or position change.

Grasping Reflex

An involuntary infant reflex in which the baby grasps objects that touch the palms.

Stepping Reflex

An involuntary infant reflex where the baby takes steps when held under the arms and leaned forward so the feet press against a surface.

Visual Accommodation

The self-adjustments made by the eye's lens to bring objects into focus, which is minimal in neonates who best see objects $7\text{ to }9\text{ inches}$ away.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)

The sudden, unexpected death of a child during the first year of life.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The death, while sleeping, of apparently healthy babies who suffocate.

Germinal Stage

The first period of prenatal development from conception to implantation of the embryo, lasting the first $2\text{ weeks}$.

Blastocyst

A stage within the germinal period of prenatal development in which the zygote forms a sphere of cells surrounding a cavity of fluid.

Embryonic Disk

The platelike inner part of the blastocyst that differentiates into the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm of the embryo.

Trophoblast

The outer part of the blastocyst from which the amniotic sac, placenta, and umbilical cord develop.

Embryonic Stage

The prenatal stage lasting from implantation through the $8\text{th week}$ ($2\text{ to }8\text{ weeks}$), characterized by organogenesis and appearance of major organ systems.

Ectoderm

The outermost cell layer of the embryo from which the skin and nervous system develop.

Endoderm

The inner layer of the embryo from which the lungs and digestive system develop.

Mesoderm

The central layer of the embryo from which the bones and muscles develop.

Chromosomes

Rod-shaped structures composed of genes found within the nuclei of cells.

Mitosis

The form of cell division in which each chromosome splits lengthwise to double in number, producing identical cells.

Meiosis

The form of cell division in which each pair of chromosomes splits so that each new cell receives $23\text{ chromosomes}$.

Mutation

A sudden variation in a heritable characteristic caused by an accident that affects the composition of genes.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

A genetic abnormality in which phenylalanine builds up in the body, leading to intellectual disabilities.

Huntington's Disease (HD)

A fatal genetic neurological disorder whose onset typically occurs in middle age.

Amniocentesis

A prenatal procedure for drawing and examining fetal cells sloughed off into amniotic fluid to detect genetic disorders.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

A method for prenatal detection of genetic abnormalities that samples the membrane enveloping the amniotic sac and fetus.

Genotype

An individual's underlying genetic code and inherited genetic makeup.

Phenotype

An individual's actual observable physical and behavioral traits.

Canalization

The tendency of heredity to restrict the development of specific characteristics to one or a few definite outcomes.

Organogenesis

The process of organ system formation and differentiation during embryonic development.

Fetal Period

The prenatal stage lasting from $2\text{ to }9\text{ months}$ characterized by fatty tissue growth, felt movement, and identification of genitals.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)

The hormone produced during pregnancy that is tested for in standard pregnancy tests.

Pica

A condition in pregnant women involving cravings for non-food substances, usually caused by iron deficiency.

Teratogen

Environmental agents (such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine, radiation, or toxins) that cause malformations or damage to a developing embryo or fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A condition caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, recognized as the leading cause of Intellectual Disability.