A teratogen is any agent or factor that can disrupt the development of an embryo or fetus, which may cause a birth defect or malformation. Whether it is a medication, disease or drug, when the mother is exposed the chances of problems arising with the baby increase. Only ten to fourteen days after conception teratogens can affect the fetus. At that stage in the pregnancy the egg has already been fertilized and attached to the uterus. This is known as the embryonic stage where if health isn’t a priority complications can occur. At this point the mother and embryo share a common blood supply therefore anything the mother does affects the embryo. This is also the stage in which most miscarriages occur. There are numerous teratogens but two…show more content…
These symptoms are so common that not every case can be diagnosed as Fetal Alcohol Effects. On the other hand Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a combination of defects consisting of facial abnormalities, intellectual disabilities, and defects of other organs.
Around day fourteen the embryo develops a primitive streak which then turns into the neural tube. This neural tube will later form the central nervous system known as the brain and spinal cord. If alcohol is introduced while this neural tube is developing defects like spina bifida and even anencephaly can occur. Alcohol can also reduce brain mass and cause neurobehavioral disturbances. In a study maternal alcohol consumption was examined in five groups of fetuses. The fetuses that were exposed to binge drinking needed more trials to habituate than the other groups. The conclusion was decreased information processing, reflected by poorer habituation, and increased variability in performance may reflect the initial manifestations of structural damage caused by alcohol to the brain (Hepper, 2012).
The second action with exposure to teratogens is smoking. Smoking during a pregnancy can cause multiple problems. Some of those problems could be low birth weight, placenta issues, miscarriage, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), premature birth, or other birth defects.
The placenta is an organ that develops and attaches to the uterus during pregnancy; it is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord. This is
These symptoms are so common that not every case can be diagnosed as Fetal Alcohol Effects. On the other hand Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a combination of defects consisting of facial abnormalities, intellectual disabilities, and defects of other organs.
Around day fourteen the embryo develops a primitive streak which then turns into the neural tube. This neural tube will later form the central nervous system known as the brain and spinal cord. If alcohol is introduced while this neural tube is developing defects like spina bifida and even anencephaly can occur. Alcohol can also reduce brain mass and cause neurobehavioral disturbances. In a study maternal alcohol consumption was examined in five groups of fetuses. The fetuses that were exposed to binge drinking needed more trials to habituate than the other groups. The conclusion was decreased information processing, reflected by poorer habituation, and increased variability in performance may reflect the initial manifestations of structural damage caused by alcohol to the brain (Hepper, 2012).
The second action with exposure to teratogens is smoking. Smoking during a pregnancy can cause multiple problems. Some of those problems could be low birth weight, placenta issues, miscarriage, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), premature birth, or other birth defects.
The placenta is an organ that develops and attaches to the uterus during pregnancy; it is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord. This is
Related
- Better Essays
Born February 12, 1809, Charles Robert Darwin Was An English
- 1533 Words
- 7 Pages
Charles Darwin published his evolution theory, in his book entitled ‘On the Origin of Species’ two decades after his return in 1959. Darwin’s Evolutionary Theory or Darwinism is considered to be the “change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of new
- 1533 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays
Popular Essays
- Characteristics and Challenges of Developing Multicast Routing Protocol
- Statement of Purpose for My Law Degree Essay
- Theories on Why Crime Occurs Essay
- Various Scopes of Web Designing Essay
- Betrayal is the Truth in Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front
- An Organizational Structure Based on Risk and Quality Fundamentals