Difference between revisions of "Pregnancy"
(Pregnancy seems to be uniquely human) |
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'''Pregnancy''' describes the condition of a mother carrying her unborn offspring. A woman becomes '''pregnant''' when a fertilised egg—a new human life—is implanted into her [[uterus]]. | '''Pregnancy''' describes the condition of a mother carrying her unborn offspring. A woman becomes '''pregnant''' when a fertilised egg—a new human life—is implanted into her [[uterus]]. | ||
| − | Pregnancy lasts approximately nine months, after which the baby is born via the [[birth canal]]. Pregnancy in animals other than humans is known as [[gestation]]. | + | Pregnancy lasts approximately nine months, after which the baby, if born naturally, is born via the [[birth canal]]. Pregnancy in animals other than humans is known as [[gestation]]. |
==Stages of Pregnancy== | ==Stages of Pregnancy== | ||
Revision as of 12:37, May 24, 2008
Pregnancy describes the condition of a mother carrying her unborn offspring. A woman becomes pregnant when a fertilised egg—a new human life—is implanted into her uterus. Pregnancy lasts approximately nine months, after which the baby, if born naturally, is born via the birth canal. Pregnancy in animals other than humans is known as gestation.
Stages of Pregnancy
Implantation
Pregnancy begins with the implantation of the conceptus into the wall of the uterus. This contains the cells that will develop into the baby as well as those which will go on to form the placenta and membranes.
Embryonic Stage
The embryonic stage consists largely of the differentiation of cells into the tissues of the body. It is divided up into 23 carnegie stages which represent different stages of development.
Fetal Stage
The fetal stage mainly consists of the growth of the foetus and continued development of internal systems.
