Prenatal Development Stages Quiz

Prenatal Development Stages

• The shortest stage of prenatal development is the germinal stage.
• The organism is referred to as a fetus from the ninth week of gestation onwards.
• The embryonic stage is characterized by rapid development and organ differentiation.
• The embryonic stage sees the differentiation of the three germ layers - ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.
• The ectoderm forms the outermost layer during embryonic development. It will give rise to skin, nervous system, and sensory organs.
• The second trimester of the fetal stage sees significant growth in size and weight, as well as the development of sensory organs.
• The embryonic stage is when the organism begins to establish basic anatomy.
• During the fetal stage, the head is proportionally larger than the body.

Teratogens

• A teratogen is any substance that can cause defects in a developing embryo or fetus.
• Examples of teratogens include alcohol, smoking, certain medications, and some infections.