Fetal development
1. Big picture
Fetal development means the stepwise transformation from a fertilized ovum into a viable newborn. For the OBGYN exam, this topic is not just embryology; it is the clinical basis of:
- pregnancy dating
- ultrasound interpretation
- congenital anomaly screening
- teratogen risk counselling
- fetal growth assessment
- fetal viability
- fetal surveillance
- timing of delivery
The examiner wants you to think in this order:
gestational age → developmental stage → vulnerable organs → correct investigation → fetal risk → management
Key oral-exam sentence:
Fetal development is divided into the pre-embryonic, embryonic, and fetal periods. The embryonic period is the most sensitive for major structural malformations, while the fetal period is mainly characterized by growth, maturation, and functional development.
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